Chapter 19

Lorelei Ives is a thirty-two-year-old legal secretary working at a small law firm in the same building as Loans R Us Mortgage Company. She is five-foot-five-inches tall, with cocoa skin, short wavy hair, and piercing black pupils with an amply proportioned figure. She is single without children. Her last boyfriend was a beat cop in the Bronx who was very insecure. He gave any man a hard time who even looked in her direction. Granted, she is a natural beauty but after three years of constantly defending her right to be attractive to the opposite sex, she left him. Another year goes by before she even decides to try dating again. She has a medical condition which has resulted in her being baron. She will never be able to have children of her own. It is one of the pitfalls she faces when trying to develop a meaningful relationship. Most women her age have already been married and have at least one child. She has yet to do one and is unable to participate in the other. Lorelei happens to cross paths with Richard some eight months early. His voice is what captivated her attention. His mannerism is what made her think of the possibilities that could develop between them. Over the next few days after the unlikely meeting, the two would encounter each other in different places, under different circumstances, and finally engage in real conversation.

Before long, Richard entertained the idea of a night of reckless passion with her and she would sit at her desk and daydream about the same. He would ask her out on a date on the Friday night that Brenda would take the girls for the weekend. Lorelei accepted the invitation. They would meet at Applebee’s for dinner. She had a grilled-chicken salad and he had a steak. The conversation was light. There was no pressure to impress or be anything other than themselves. They laughed plenty until the conversation got serious. “Tell me. Why on earth is a handsome guy like yourself unattached?” Lorelei inquired. Richard’s happy go lucky mood changes. He sits back in the booth to ponder his response. Lorelei leans forward on the table to make sure that he understood that she was truly interested in what he had to say. “Well. I was in a long-term relationship from early adulthood with the mother of my children. In my heart of hearts, I knew that she and I would be together forever. It turned out not to be the case,” Richard explained. “Umm. Hmm. What happened?” Lorelei asked. “Simple. She left me for someone else,” Richard expressed as he shrugged his shoulders. “Oh. I’m sorry. I didn’t me to pry,” Lorelei retorts as she reaches to rub his hand as a comforting measure. “No worries. That’s water under the bridge,” Richard insisted. The conversation returns to a light jovial fare. They have cherry pie for the dessert.

As they leave the restaurant, Richard offers to escort her back to her car. She drives a silver Honda Prius. “Whoa. Nice car,” he said. “Yeah. My dad says it is environmentally friendly,” she answered with a smile. “Well. It was nice that we finally got together and hopefully we can do again sometime,” he suggested. “Can I be honest with you?” Lorelei stated as she bit her lip. “Sure. What’s wrong?” Richard asked. “Nothing is wrong, I have wanted to kiss you since I first saw you at the Taco Bell. I am embarrassed but wanted you to know that I am attracted to you,” Lorelei admitted. Richard begins to blush as a big smile spreads across his face. “Well. That’s an issue I can solve,” he answered. He bends down to kiss her. It lasts for nearly a full two minutes. They forget that they are in the restaurant parking lot. The kiss ignites something in both of them. Richard is moved by her in a way that he can’t explain. He leaves her to return to his vehicle. As he pulls into his driveway, before he could shut off the engine, a car parks in front of his house on the street. He gets out of his vehicle and walks down the driveway. You hear the car alarm initiate and Lorelei steps up to the curb.

The two have a night of sensual loving-making on a rug in front of the living room fireplace. Every stroke consumes Lorelei as Richard gets lost inside of her. She winds up spending the night and all of the next day. They talk about everything under the sun from career to children and marriage. This is the first time that Richard is comfortable talking about matrimony with a woman. He takes his openness with Lorelei as a sign of things to come. They re-arrange his bedroom, moving the bed from one wall to the next as well as adjusting the chest of drawers. It was all at Lorelei’s suggestion to bring more ‘Feng shui’ into his personal space. She leaves late Saturday night after a few more rounds of intimacy in the shower, in his bed and as she sat on the edge of the washing machine during the spin cycle. No telling when his children would return from their weekend so she needed to be gone before dawn on Sunday. Letting her walk out of the door is hard for him. Knowing that they are on the road to a solid relationship makes it easier.

He would repeat this marathon of sexual karma sutra every time Brenda took the girls. Lorelei slowly becomes his confidant and the person with whom he sees a future. The next step would be to introduce her to his children. After three months, he does just that. He invites Lorelei to meet them at their favorite restaurant the Peking Duck for Chinese food. Samantha and Trina have no idea. They arrive at six o’clock, are seated at a table in the middle of the restaurant and given menus. Samantha and Trina each have a favorite and rarely try anything different. Richard keeps his eye on the door, watching for Lorelei’s arrival. She enters the restaurant at half-past six o’clock. She searches the establishment for Richard. He notices her immediately and waves. Samantha and Trina see the bright smile on his face and turn to see who he acknowledges. Lorelei sees him signaling, she takes a deep breath and walks towards their table. Richard gets up, takes her jacket and introduces her to his daughters. “Samantha, Trina, this is my girlfriend Lorelei,” he said with pride. They are taken aback by his declaration. It even stuns Lorelei with his identification of their relationship. “Hi.” The two girls said in unison. “It is very nice to meet you Samantha and Trina. Your father gushes about you every chance he gets and I can see why. You both are very lovely,” Lorelei expressed with a smile. “Thank you.” The girls said in unison with a giggle. They watch their father’s body language as he leans in when Lorelei speaks and hers as she constantly strokes his hand throughout dinner. She gives off a warm glow that envelops everyone in her presence. His feelings deepen for Lorelei with the children’s acceptance of their relationship. Samantha and Trina are growing to love her as they have never seen their father beaming with happiness before.

The one caveat is keeping Brenda from finding out about it. Sure, she has a relationship of her own but knowing that his heart belongs to another would only insight a less amicable situation than they have today. With every visit, she presses her children about their father’s social well-being. Samantha would often ignore her questions while Trina would counter with, “what does it matter?” Brenda’s need to know if Richard secretly still pines for her is important. She decides to enlist his family to get the answers that she wants. Out of the blue, she finds herself knocking at the door of his best friend. Philly opens his front door surprised to find Brenda standing there. “Well. Look who it is. Are you lost? Girl, I have not seen you since the holiday season in 2016. Why are you here?” He asked as he grimaced. “Is your wife at home?” Brenda asked with her lip twisted to the side. He opens the door wide enough for her to enter. Missy is in the kitchen preparing dinner when Brenda rushes in and drops her handbag on the breakfast counter. “Girl, how are you doing? My mind has been on you for the longest time,” she stated. Philly goes to the back of the house to give the women a chance to catch up. “Oh. Yeah. I have been well. What’s going on with you?” Missy replied. “Wonderful. Everything is Wonderful. I am happy with Bruce. The girls are finally warming up to him. Richard and I have been civil to one another. I really couldn’t ask for a better outcome,” Brenda insisted. “Great. Great. Now tell me what’s really going on?” Missy demanded. “No. No. Everything is all good. I’m just worried about Richard,” Brenda stated with concern. “Why?” Missy retorted. “Well, I know that he will always love me and I’m afraid he might be suppressing his feelings about our break-up,” Brenda suggested. Missy rolls her eyes as she sighs. “I think my cousin is fine,” Missy quipped. “Well. Let’s ask your husband. Philly, can you come in here, please?” Brenda shouted. He approaches slowly not knowing what he is about to walk in on. “Yeah. Someone bellowed for me,” he answered. “You and Richard have been friends from childhood correct,” Brenda interrogated. “Yes. Why?” He asked. “You would know if your boy was acting a little out of character,” Brenda pressed. “Yes. Why?” He inquired. “Do you think that Richard is acting differently since we split?” Brenda probed. Philly pauses for a moment as he contemplates his answer to her question. He looks to his wife for direction. She shrugs her shoulders as she raises a brow. Brenda is sitting on the edge of her seat at the breakfast counter with her arms folded thinking if anyone has the answer she craves, his best friend will have it. “Yes. I have to say that my brother from another is definitely different since your relationship ceased to exist,” Philly pontificated. “Uh huh. I knew it. I thought that I was going crazy,” Brenda stated. “Knew what?” Missy chimed in from behind the kitchen counter. “I knew that he has been suppressing his feeling for me,” Brenda said as if she has solved a puzzle.

Satisfied with the information, Brenda grabs her purse and heads for the door to leave the home of the Busibodie family. Just as she is about to walk through the door, Philly can’t help but ruin her day. “Yes sir. My boy Richard is the happiest that he has ever been now that he has a woman who can appreciate him,” he interjects as he closes the door behind her. Brenda is shocked to learn that Richard has finally moved on with someone else. Missy covers her mouth with both hands. They expect her to knock at the door again but she doesn’t. “Why did you do that?” Missy asked. “I can’t stand that smug bitch after all the bullshit she put him through. She needed a blow to the gut,” Philly expressed with disgust. “Well. You had better let Richard know that she’s going to be on the warpath,” Missy replied.

Brenda decides that she will stop by Jessica Harvey’s home to pick her brain. Monica is shocked to see her as she appears just as she opens the front door to leave to run an errand. “Hey girl. The kids are not here,” Monica stated. “I know. I came by to see your mother” Brenda answered. They pass each other as Brenda makes her way into the house. “Hello. Ms. Jessica,” Brenda beckoned. Jessica pokes her head out of the kitchen. “I’m back here,” she said. Brenda makes her way to the kitchen. She walks towards Jessica with open arms and the two embrace. “Are the kids with you?” Jessica inquired. “No. I came to see you,” Brenda admitted. “Oh. How nice of you to think of me, baby,” Jessica answered with a smile. “How have you been?” Brenda asked. “I am doing well,” Jessica answered. “I heard about Richards’ new girlfriend,” Brenda stated. “Oh. Lorelei is a lovely young lady. We love her,” Jessica expressed with joy. Brenda frowned. “That is great. I am happy for him,” Brenda said hesitantly. “Yes. We all are. She makes the girls happy,” Jessica quipped. Her response strikes a nerve with Brenda. She has asked her daughters repeatedly about their father’s social engagements and they have dismissed her at every opportunity. “Really. That is good to hear. How long have they been an item?” Brenda pressed. “Oh. I think they have been hot and heavy for a few months or more now,” Jessica rattled on. “I’m taking the girls skiing for Christmas. I hope that you are not upset that they will not be around,” Brenda inquired. “No. Richard told me. I understand how these separate household situations work,” Jessica retorted. Brenda finds an excuse to be on her way. She is fuming mad by the time she leaves the Harvey Household.

Brenda drives home to find Bruce sitting on the sofa waiting for her arrival. “Where have you been?” Bruce demanded to know since it was late in the evening. “I was with Richard’s mother,” Brenda answered. “Oh. You took the girls there first before home,” Bruce inquired. “No. I went there alone after I dropped them at home,” Brenda exclaimed. “You just can’t cut those people loose,” Bruce said with an attitude. “If you must know, they are not thinking about me. Richard has a new woman in his life,” Brenda stated with a hint of sadness. “What? The man has finally moved on,” Bruce shouts as a growing grin sprouted. Brenda has nothing more to say on the subject.

She curls up on the sofa snuggled in his arms. As she drifts off to sleep, visions of Richard and her in their youth permeate her dreams. It’s like a slow silent movie where all the milestones of her life flash before her eyes. Only it ends very differently from her reality. In a small chapel, filled with people on both sides of the aisle. She sees a bride wearing a fitted dress in white chiffon and a tiara with a veil attached. She can see the bride as clear as day. Then she sees a man of tall stature broad across the shoulders in a white tuxedo, fidgeting nervously but with an expression of pure joy on his face. A tear drops from her eye at the beautiful sight. It feels real to her. It feels like it’s the day that she’s always wanted and she is finally getting to have. Just as the minister is about to proclaim the couple joined in holy matrimony, someone drops a bible on the floor and she is jarred awake. In reality, Bruce moved knocking the remote control to the television off the sofa. “Oh. You were sleeping so soundly. I was trying not to wake you up,” he whispered.

Brenda takes her dream as a sign that maybe she has made a terrible mistake in tossing away her life with Richard. She wants to find a way to get back to him. Only, with him being in a committed relationship, she is going to require help. The ski trip with her daughters is a couple of weeks away. Maybe she can enlist their help without them knowing it. First, she needs to find out all that she can about Lorelei. Second, she needs to convince Richard why they aren’t a good match and lastly, she needs to prove that they need to be together. The idea is to stop the forward progression of Richard adoration for Lorelei and reinvigorate his love for her. Meanwhile, she continues her relationship with Bruce as a mere safeguard to achieving her desired result.