I wonder what's bothering her? Earlier she seemed genuinely happy to see me. Now she can barely open her mouth to say a word to me. Shit that's one thing about women I did not miss. Mood swings. I thought stepping off the elevator and leading the way down the hall to a heavy steel door. Dana hadn't been able to see the outside of the building at all only the garage but when I opened the door and we walked inside, her dropped jaw letting me know she was impressed.
The entire place was huge and open, the ceilings were so high Dana had to literally tilt her entire head back just to see it all. She was able to detect the textured pattern on the wall. It was obvious this place had once been some type of warehouse and had been converted into high end living spaces.
“ Wow! Terrence this is gorgeous. Did you get this today? Whose place is this?” Dana asked walking around taking a look at the tastefully decorated home. It was definitely decorated with a male in mind,the large wide screen T.V. damn near looked like a move screen on the wall. Stereo set up and game systems,the kitchen area was modern with stainless steel shining appliances that could rival the kitchen of any professional chef.
I laughed.
“ Nah baby. I own this place. I bought it six years ago. I had my lawyer hook me up with a housekeeper who came in and kept the place nice and clean the entire time I was locked up. I had her come get the place ready for me last week. Who knows maybe we'll keep her on now that I'm out. It's up to you.”
“ Up to me? How so ?”
I shook my head and smiled. This woman don't even know if she play her cards right I'ma give her ass everything.
“ Because you're my wife Dana, the woman of the house. I mean we talked about all this many times. I'm a modern type dude but I do have some old-fashioned ways. You're the lady of the house. If you meet the house-cleaner and like her she can stay....if you don't like her she gotta go.” I walked through the spacious loft taking off my jacket,stripping down until I was in my wife-beater and jeans.
Dana's breath caught in her throat just looking at him. Terrence had an amazing body. Hell I don't know how his body looked before he got locked up but his body damn sure looks good as hell now, Dana thought.
“ Come sit down Dana, let's talk.” I said motioning her to the sleek,black leather sectional in the middle of the room. Dana walked hesitantly towards me looking unsure of where she should sit. Does he want me right next to him? Maybe I should sit across from him? Dana took a few steps to the left away from him.
“ Right here. Next to me...that's if you don't mind.” I said a smirk etched across my face.
“ Of course I don't mind. It's just that, well...,” Dana stammered before she decided to just shut the hell up and walk towards him. She sat down running her fingers through her hair.
I leaned back in the couch,silently looking at Dana for a few moments before speaking. It seemed like my looking at her only served to make her more nervous.
“ So tell me Dana,why aren't you wearing your wedding ring?”
“ Huh? Umm,what?”
“ Married women wear their wedding rings. Like married men do as well.” I said holding up my hand to show off my wide diamond encrusted platinum band that matched Dana's perfectly.
“ Hold on. Where did you get that? You didn't have that the day we got married.”
“ Of course I didn't! I was in prison. What would I look like walking around a prison wearing a platinum and diamond wedding band? It's the match to the beautiful set you have that I notice you're not even wearing. My feelings are hurt. I had a valid reason not to wear mine, what's your reason?”
“ Terrence you said you really didn't want me talking about us so I just thought...,”
“ No I said I didn't want you discussing us with my sister. I don't want my sister all up in our business. Of course I want my wife to wear her wedding ring.”
Well Terrence is opening the door so we may as well talk about this entire situation right damn now! Here he is asking me about my wedding ring, Tamera is tripping. We may as well clear the air. Dana thought.
“ I'm glad you brought all this up Terrence because as of today I really have some things on my mind more than ever. First in regards to the ring now that you're actually here with me, I have no problem wearing it. I didn't wear it all this time ...I mean except when I went to see you because it was too hard to explain. I mean the ring is beautiful it. But how was I going to explain my sudden husband that wasn't around? I just figured I'd start wearing it all the time once you were released. So this leads me to my question.
Do you really want to be married to me now that you're out Terrence? I know all the things we've talked about. I know we didn't get together in the most conventional way but we did say during these last few months that we'd grown to care about one another. Granted it's not love but it could get there. Why is your sister under the impression you're going to be all over New York chasing hoes now that you're home?”
Chasing hoes? Where the hell did Tamera get that shit from? I had to restrain himself from laughing in her face. Dana looked serious as hell at the moment and I definitely didn't want to make whatever was bothering her worse.
“ Dana,what could have given you the impression given everything we've talked about from the day my sister brought you to see me until now that I want any other woman but you ? We've talked about so many things since then. What have I done to give you the impression that I want to do anything other than make my wife fall in love with me when I came home?”
Dana was speechless. She'd heard every single word he'd said simply because she hadn't been able to take her eyes of his full lips from the moment he began speaking. Oh my God! Is it hot in here? Dana's hand flew to her forehead. Her thoughts raced to those very words he'd told her time and time again during their brief conversations on their nightly phone calls. The letters he'd written her.
“ Well?”
“ Terrence, I feel like this because of some things your sister was saying today. I don't know...despite our conversations she just made me feel insecure about the possibility of you really wanting to be with me. Maybe you need to think more about this. I mean truthfully you were in a vulnerable position at the time,lonely...hell I'm sure you were missing women something terrible after almost two years. No sex. I just happened to be there and needed help at the time. I'll pay you back the money you lent me and we can end this so you can get on with your life okay.” Dana said springing up from her seat and running down the nearest hall. She had no idea where she was going. Terrence's place was huge,she opened up the door directly in her now blurry line of vision and quickly closed it behind her.
* * * *