Diane slammed the car door as she hurried toward the section of Chene Park where she normally met her mother. She didn’t have to wait. Lillie was already there. One look at her tight mouth revealed her mood.
“Where the hell have you been? I waited over two hours for you yesterday and you didn’t show.”
Lillie Rivers was an older version of Diane. The two looked so much alike they could have been mistaken for sisters. Lillie’s thick, shoulder-length black hair was streaked with gray at the temples and her body was still as slim as her daughter’s. The major difference was that Lillie had survived a hard life, and the signs of it were etched into the harsh lines of her once beautiful face. Today she was dressed in a skin-tight short black lace dress that bordered on garish.
“Calm down. I couldn’t come yesterday. Something came up at the last minute and I had no way of getting in touch with you. I’m here now. What’s so urgent?”
“Don’t you take that high tone with me! I’m still your mother.”
“Please, don’t make me laugh. You haven’t ever been a mother to me, so shall we get down to business here? How much do you want?”
Lillie didn’t bother to look for the pain in her daughter’s eyes. “I called you last night, but your damn number has been disconnected. What’s going on? How the hell am I supposed to reach you?”
“Let’s stop wasting time.” Diane reached into her purse and handed her a sealed envelope. Lillie grabbed it and ripped it open without delay.
“Why the extra?”
“I won’t be able to come as often as before. And you won’t be able to contact me,” Diane said, with absolutely no emotion in her voice. “From now on, you will have to wait until I contact you.”
“Now, look here, I’m not about to put up with this kind of mess!”
“Now, you look! I don’t owe you anything. You’re lucky I even speak to you. We both know if it wasn’t for me, you’d be living in the streets!”
“What’s going on?”
“My life is none of your concern.”
“You uppity bitch!”
“You don’t know the first thing about me. You’ve never taken time to care what I do.” Diane suddenly realized her heart was racing and her breathing was uneven. She forced herself to calm down before saying evenly, “All I ask is that you respect my privacy. I will continue to support you as long as you remember that. You take one little step over the line, and you can forget this meal ticket.”
The two glared at each other. It was Lillie who broke the silence.
“You may be ashamed to admit it, but you are my child and you came from my body. That counts for somethin’.”
“Please! I have more respect for any stranger on the street,” Diane snapped, hating that she allowed herself to so much as care what happened to Lillie.
“Why did you have your phone disconnected?”
“My life has changed. I’m married now, never mind to whom. I’m not about to let you ruin that for me.”
“Married some rich son of a bitch, hmm?” Lillie grinned, staring at the sparkling stones on Diane’s left hand.
“Don’t get any nasty ideas, Lillie. Yes, you brought me into this world. I can’t change that. Unfortunately, you’ve never done a damn thing for me since. I’m the one who built a better life for myself. You had nothing to do with who and what I am today. And I sure as hell didn’t ask you to follow me to Detroit.”
“So your new husband won’t be too pleased by his mother-in-law?” Lillie roared with laughter.
Diane shuddered, terrified by the mere thought. “Don’t play with me, Lillie. My marriage is not your concern. We stick to the same rules as before. I’ll continue to pay your rent and your expenses. But don’t come to my job or call me there. Remember, if you expose me, it’ll be the last time you ever get a nickel out of me!”
“And what if I have an emergency?”
“If I were you, I’d take real good care of myself.”
“You’re full of bull! Do you hear me?” Lillie screamed at Diane. “I need a phone number, or your precious new husband may not be the only one to find out about you. How would you like for those professional friends of yours to find out where you come from, girl?”
“Don’t you dare threaten me! You’re the one who’ll wind up with nothing!” Diane spun on her heel and walked away as fast as she could. She didn’t look back. Her spine was stiff, her body tight with anger and grief. Because of Lillie she was forced to tell lies to the very people she loved and respected most. It wasn’t fair!
Tears were streaming down her face by the time she let herself into her car. She was shaking so badly it took a moment before she had herself under control enough to start the car. The tears flowed freely, yet Diane couldn’t explain why she was crying. Hadn’t she come to terms with her mother years ago?
She’d worked hard for everything she’d accomplished; no one had given her an easy ride. Working full-time while taking a full load of college classes hadn’t left her any free time. During all these years of struggle, she’d had no one to depend on but herself. Finally, she had someone in her life whom she truly loved and valued. Her mother wanted to destroy her happiness, wanted to drag her back down to the same gutter they’d crawled out of. No way! Diane wasn’t about to sit idle and let her, and she wouldn’t even consider losing Charles. She meant every word she’d said; she would gladly cut Lillie off before she’d allow her to come between her and Charles.
Charles... she sighed his name with longing. How she missed their closeness... their talks... their loving. It was through Sheldon that she’d learned Charles was involved in a late-night basketball tournament at the community center. The week was slipping away and still they hadn’t resolved their disagreement.
Lost in thought, Diane didn’t pay attention to the taxi that was following her progress through the early evening traffic.
On Thursday, Charles was no closer to forgetting his jealousy than he’d been on Sunday night. He just couldn’t seem to let go of his anger.
Even though they’d slept in the same king-sized bed that one telephone call had been as effective as placing a brick wall down the middle of it.
Was his pride the only thing keeping his arms empty?
It was after one in the morning when Charles climbed the stairs and quietly approached their bedroom. Since he was coaching, there was no way he could have gotten out of the late-night games. Charles told himself he preferred to return home after Diane had gone to bed. It made things a whole lot simpler.
But despite his declaration, he missed her terribly. He hadn’t realized how much he’d hoped that just this once Diane would wait up for him until he entered their room and found her asleep. He was tired of doing without her sweet, sweet loving. If anyone was acting like a fool, it was him. He was the one lying awake beside his woman night after night with a hard-on.
The bedside lamps were switched on as well as the television set mounted on the built-in wall unit. Diane lay curled on her side, sound asleep. An open book lay beside her. Charles sighed, turning off the set. The navy comforter was at her waist, revealing the pale blue lace nightgown which barely contained her luscious breasts. She didn’t stir. He placed her novel on the nightstand and turned off her lamp before moving into the connecting dressing room. The plush cream carpet underfoot absorbed the sound of his footsteps.
Closing the dressing room door carefully behind him, Charles flicked on the light. He was pleased that her dresses, suits, blouses, and slacks filled one side of the long room. Her white wicker bureau and dresser stood beside his own heavy dark oak bureau. He opened a drawer, then smiled as he gazed at the array of her silky underthings arranged neatly inside. If asked, Charles wouldn’t have been able to put into words why the physical evidence of Diane’s presence in his home filled him with such deep satisfaction. Nonetheless, it was a fact.
He showered and reentered the bedroom with nothing more than a towel around his waist. Carefully he got into bed and turned out the light, plunging the room into darkness. He didn’t try to sleep. Instead, he lay on his back, his hands behind his head, concentrating on the sound of his wife’s soft, even breathing. Eventually, he turned on his side toward her, but he made no move to touch her.
Perhaps she sensed his presence, because she moved toward him. In fact, she didn’t settle until her sweet, sexy behind was cradled between his thighs. They lay spoon-fashion. His aroused shaft hardened even more. Charles swallowed a throaty groan, placing his arms around her, a soft full breast warmed by his cupped palm. It was a long time before he was able to drop off to sleep.
***
“Diane.”
“Hmm,” she mumbled pressing her face into the pillow.
Tempted to caress her soft shoulders, instead Charles said “It’s almost seven. If you don’t get a move on, you’re going to be late for your first class.” He busied his hands with knotting his necktie. He was no fool. If he so much as touched her, he would wind up in bed with her, deep within her hot, womanly center... that was, if she would let him near her.
“I’m awake,” she mumbled sitting up. She saw that he was already dressed. Normally he was up and gone before she got out of bed. She supposed with his heavy workload starting before office hours enabled him to finish early enough to spend time at the community center.
The trouble was, they hadn’t spent any time together. It was the first time she’d seen him the entire miserable week.
“You look familiar. What is your name again?” she said sarcastically, furious with him and self-conscious about the way she looked. Her hair was no doubt standing up all over her head and her gown suddenly seemed too short and much too sheer. How in the world were they ever going to solve their problem if they never saw each other? How were they going to make this marriage work? Surely they couldn’t go on like this for much longer.
“Very funny.” He didn’t look amused. Nevertheless, he took note of how lovely she was drowsy from sleep... and how sexy. He hadn’t seen her like this since their first morning back from their honeymoon. His body reminded him of just how many seconds, minutes, and hours it had been since they’d made love. He’d missed her. He was forced to clear his throat before he could speak. “We don’t have time to get into another argument,” he said tightly. “You’d better hurry. The clock went off fifteen minutes ago. I thought you heard it.” He shrugged into the jacket of his navy pinstriped suit, which he had teamed with a cream silk shirt and a red-and-navy striped tie.
He looked good... so good. She sighed as he seemed to make a point of keeping his back to her as he pocketed his wallet and change. They were like perfectly correct strangers. They hadn’t talked... they hadn’t made love in days... she missed her husband... her lover... her friend.
Unable to gaze at her lush, sweet mouth without reaching for her, he said gruffly, “Oh, I forgot to tell you about the dinner dance tonight, a fundraiser for the community center.”
“How could you forget something like that?”
“I had other things on my mind.” A muscle jumped in his jaw.
“Do you want to go?”
“I have to. I’m on the executive board. Besides, my fraternity is sponsoring it. I’ve invited Jeff Jenkins and his mother to come as my guests.”
“That’s the young man you told me about, isn’t it?” Diane asked, as she reached for her robe on the padded bench at the end of the bed.
Charles swallowed, unable to look away from the outline of his wife’s large nipples. His body swelled with erotic anticipation.
“Charles?”
“Yeah. I’m late—I’ve got to get out of here.” He was already reaching for the doorknob. “I know this is short notice, but can you make it? It would mean a lot to me.”
Diane couldn’t meet his gaze. She didn’t want him to see her disappointment... her hurt. Somehow, she managed to make her tone as polite as his. “Of course. Is it formal?”
“Semi. I’ll pick you up at seven.”
“Pick me up?”
“Yeah. I’ve got racket ball with Quinn after work. I’ll shower and change at the club. ’Bye.” If he had bothered to look, he’d have seen tears sparkling in her eyes.
She had been furious with Charles for waiting until the last minute to tell her about the dinner dance. Fortunately, she didn’t have to run around after work looking for a dress. She’d bought a new dress for their final night on the cruise and hadn’t gotten a chance to wear it. A dress, with any luck, that might cause her husband to wake up and take notice.
Instead of admiring the graceful lines of the form-fitting black velvet sheath with its heart-shaped neckline, Diane frowned at the fatigue she saw in her toffee-toned skin. Smoke-colored eye shadow, rose blush and lipstick, and the feathery ebony curls could hide only so much. She looked how she truly felt—exhausted. Friday night. She’d much rather curl up in an armchair in front of the fireplace with a book than face a room full of strangers.
Diane had chosen to wear the earrings and bracelet that Charles had given her on their wedding trip in hopes of lifting her spirits. She had just reached the bottom step when Charles let himself in with his key.
“Hi.” His dark gaze traveled over her soft curves. “Pretty dress.”
“Thank you. Do we have time for a drink?”
Charles met her gaze with surprise, since Diane very rarely drank. “Sorry, we’re already late. Are you ready?” He placed his sports bag on one of the armchairs which flanked an ebony lacquered table in the hallway.
It was bad enough that he hadn’t reached for her to share even a brief kiss. Did he have to look away, too?
“Yes.” Handing him her black velvet evening cape, she told herself that now wasn’t the time to get into an argument. But she was sick and tired of being treated so coldly. She had done nothing wrong. If she’d wanted to be with Greg, she could have married the man months ago when he’d asked her. Greg knew the score... he knew that they were only friends.
Charles saw the flicker of emotion which sped across her beautiful features. He was trying his best to maintain some semblance of control over his emotions. He’d done enough ranting and raving on Sunday night. It had only served to make her furious with him. He knew he owed her an apology. And he intended to give it to her, later, once they were alone.
She looked so good and smelled so wonderful. He yearned to pull her into his arms. It had been a long, empty week. All he wanted was to be alone with his wife. They needed to spend time with each other. Hell, he ached to have his woman back.
His hands rested momentarily on her shoulders in the thick pile of the soft wrap. The fabric could not compare to the softness of her bare skin. Briefly, he allowed himself the pleasure of inhaling her scent. His betraying body tightened, his shaft thickening with desire.
Charles lowered his head until his open mouth touched her neck just below her right earlobe. He heard her soft gasp. He comforted himself when she didn’t pull away from him. In fact, she leaned back against his chest for an all-too-brief instant. He fought the urge to devour her soft, rose-tinted lips. One kiss wouldn’t be enough... could never be enough. He’d been without for too damn long. If he touched her, they could forget about the dinner dance, because he wouldn’t be able to stop until he was deep within her moist, tight heat.
Stepping back, he realized his hands were shaking. He quickly shoved them into his trouser pockets. After nearly a week of doing everything he could to hold on to his anger, despite his relentless hunger for her sweet mouth and her soft body, he knew he was damn lucky she’d allowed him to touch her at all. It was a wonder that she’d agreed to go with him tonight.
Charles didn’t understand the strong sense of possessiveness or jealousy he felt toward her. This wasn’t the first time it had happened. But it had taken him by surprise. He expected their marriage to change all that nonsense. But it hadn’t. Even though she wore his ring, he was terrified of losing her.
“You’re going to like the Jenkinses. Jeff is sixteen. He’s a junior at Cass. His mother, Anthia, has been raising him alone.”
A picture of her own brother formed in her mind. Diane smiled, wondering how different her life would have been if her brother had lived. Maybe she and her mother could have had a relationship? Maybe she could have felt something for her mother other than shame and resentment?