Fool and Her Honey (9781622860791) Read online

  Daddy cupped her behind in his hands.

  “All right now. Don’t get nothing started that you ain’t got time to finish,” she said, giggling and pushing him away.

  “Oh, I got time! We ain’t got to meet the plane. We just need to pick him up.”

  “All right, Daddy. Time to go!” I said, jumping to my feet and wedging them apart.

  “What you rushing for now?” he teased as he playfully pushed me away. “He done waited all this time. Another hour ain’t gone kill ’im.”

  “I’m going to the car.” I stood, grabbing my purse, keys, and few more strawberries. “Bye, Mom.” When she didn’t answer, I looked over my shoulder and saw that her mouth was full of my daddy’s lips. “Come on, Daddy!”

  “You just wait till I get back here,” he warned my mom, pulling away and following me down the hallway leading to the front door.

  I couldn’t help but laugh at my parents, still keeping it hot after twenty-some years.

  “So how are you feeling, baby girl?” Daddy asked me once we were settled in the car and on the highway.

  “Nervous.”

  “A good nervous or a bad nervous? ’Cause you know you can just say the word and I will turn this car around and that joker can get back home the best way he can.”

  “A good nervous, Daddy, a good nervous. Keep driving,” I instructed, pointing forward.

  “All right now. I’m just checking, ’cause I ain’t for no junk.”

  “That’s why you’re the best dad in the world,” I responded, which made him smile like he did whenever I’d tell him that.

  “Uh-huh. You’re just saying that ’cause I’m your daddy, but feel free to say it as much as you’d like.”

  I felt like a little child waiting for Christmas Day to arrive as we sat at the baggage claim for Southwest Airlines, watching the flight arrival screens to make sure that SeanMichael’s flight would land on time. It seemed to take forever, and I must have watched a million people walk by, examining every face that looked like it could possibly be his, although he had not texted me to let me know he’d landed yet. It wasn’t until I went to the ladies’ room, with my phone buried deep in my purse, my purse hanging on the back of the stall door, and me squatting over the toilet, releasing water, that my phone started ringing with SeanMichael’s designated ring tone. Talk about Murphy’s Law. By the time I dug my phone out, I’d missed the call, but I wasted no time dialing his number back.

  “Hey, baby!” he greeted.

  “Hey! You’re here?”

  “My feet are on the ground, well, not on the ground exactly. The plane is on the ground with me in it. We’re taxiing to the concourse now. I guess I will see you in a few minutes.”

  “Yes, you will,” I gushed. I checked the mirror and made sure I looked my absolute best, then rushed from the bathroom, as if he were already in the terminal. I was on pins and needles and couldn’t keep myself from smiling if my life depended on it.

  “He just called, Dad. He should be coming through in a few minutes,” I blurted once I reached my daddy’s side again.

  “You ready?” he asked, throwing his arm around my shoulders.

  “Yep.”

  Twenty more minutes went by before SeanMichael called and said he was approaching the baggage claim. I spotted SeanMichael weaving his way through the sea of travelers. As he got closer, I noticed his clothes were disheveled, and immediately embarrassment set in. He wore a dingy white polo that not only was in need of a hot iron, but also had what looked like a gravy stain splattered on the front. His pants were standard khakis that were also in need of ironing. They say clothes make the man, and if there were any truth to that, I couldn’t rightfully say this was a man approaching me with a wide grin and open arms.

  His hair was coiled in tiny knots so tight, it looked like he had a head full of stationary black bugs, and his shoes were a pair of sandals that looked like they had been borrowed from Moses, after they had been passed down through a few generations before they got to him. This was what he chose to look like to meet me for the very first time? I knew the flight from the East Coast to the desert was about six hours, but really, was that the best he could do? No one must have ever talked to him about making a first impression. Lawd!

  “Hey, sweetheart!”

  “Hey, SeanMichael!” I answered, still excited, but his appearance took away from the moment. I was truly taken aback.

  He wrapped strong arms around me and pulled me close to him. At least he smelled good.

  “Oh, my goodness, I can’t believe I’m actually here with you,” he whispered in my ear.

  “Me either!” I replied, reciprocating.

  “Thank you, Lord!” he said out loud, squeezing me extra tight. “Thank you.”

  We held the embrace for a good thirty seconds before pulling away.

  “You are so beautiful,” he commented, looking directly into my eyes. I could tell that in his world, for that moment, no one else existed besides me. “I love you.”

  “I love you too.”

  Our lips met in a kiss that was awkward for the first four seconds, while we got a feel of each other’s mouths, then slid into a mesmerizing, intimate exchange of passion. After Daddy cleared his throat, we sheepishly broke away.

  “SeanMichael, this is my dad, Ernest Turner.”

  “How are you doing, sir? SeanMichael Monroe,” he greeted, slapping his hand into my dad’s. “It’s a privilege and an honor to meet you.”

  “Likewise, son,” Daddy answered, scanning SeanMichael’s choice of wardrobe.

  “Oh, excuse my shirt. I, uh . . .” SeanMichael brushed at his clothes with his hands, as if the gesture would fix his appearance.

  “Oh, don’t worry about it, man. I know how it is to have to travel across the country. You want to be comfortable.” Good ol’ dad. He knew just what to say.

  “Let me text Mom and let her know we’ll be at the house in a few,” I said, pulling out my phone. In all actuality, I texted my daddy, begging him to stop somewhere on the way to the house where SeanMichael could change into a decent shirt at least. I couldn’t let anyone else meet him in the close to vagabond condition he was currently in. A few seconds later he texted back.

  Leave that man alone

  Daddy didn’t understand. I was looking my best, and I wanted SeanMichael to look just as good as I did. Especially for meeting my entire family for the first time. Maybe he planned to change clothes once we got to my parents’ house, which was where we’d arranged for him to stay until our wedding day. While Daddy went to get the car, we stood around the carousel, grinning at each other, holding hands, and nuzzling on each other, until finally his luggage came around, which was no more than an extra-large duffel bag.

  “You ready, beautiful?” he asked as he heaved the bag up on his shoulder.

  “Ready when you are,” I chirped.

  I didn’t know how to tactfully ask if he planned on changing clothes or freshening up a bit once we got to the house. I tried to ease my way into that recommendation.

  “You feeling okay? I know it was a long flight,” I began.

  “I was a little tired, but laying eyes on you and getting to hold you in my arms was the adrenaline shot I needed. I feel just fine, baby.” He squeezed my hand tighter as we walked past a men’s room. Couldn’t he just shoot in there real quick, comb his hair, and change out of that god-awful shirt? Okay. It was looking like Mom would have to meet him as is, but I’d be doggone if he stayed that way all evening.

  “I was just going to say, by the time we get to my mom and dad’s, you will probably have about an hour and a half if you wanted to take a quick nap and change for dinner.”

  “Nah, I’m fine. It took me all this time to get here and be with you. I don’t want to miss a minute of it sleeping. I can sleep after I make you my wife.”

  Inwardly I sighed. What was everybody gonna think looking at this sloppy man? I mean, I loved him beyond that, and would even help him to manage his
image once we got married, but he couldn’t fix himself up even a little bit?

  Sure enough, when we got to my parents’ home, after he hugged my mom, she showed him to the guest bedroom, and he put down his bag, then came right back into the living room and took a seat beside me. Obviously, he thought he looked just fine.

  Mom had prepared chicken sandwiches, sliced cake, and iced tea, which we all ate, and we made small talk until SeanMichael asked for the floor.

  “Well, Mr. and Mrs. Turner, I like to do things decently and in order, so first, I want to thank you for welcoming me into your beautiful home and allowing me to stay here during my visit.”

  “It’s our pleasure,” Mom answered. “We don’t mind at all.”

  “I sure appreciate it,” he said with a humble nod. “Now . . .” He stopped just long enough to clear his throat, then grabbed my hand, holding it in his own, and started again. “I know that my and Candis’s relationship has had the most unusual start and has taken a path that has gained a lot of criticism and skepticism from a lot of people, and I’m sure you’ve had, and maybe still have, your own concerns. I want to assure you that I love Candis with every fiber of my being and have nothing but the absolute best intentions for her as an individual and for us as a couple. He paused momentarily and focused solely on my dad. “With that said, I’d like to ask your permission to marry your daughter.”

  Daddy let silence hang in the air for a half a minute while he gave a pensive stare. With puckered lips, he stroked the hairs on his chin, nodding slowly.

  “You’ve spoken well, young man,” Daddy finally began. “I do have my reservations, but I realize that my daughter is grown and she’s always made smart decisions.”

  That was only because he had no idea of my string of relationship failures. Married men, abusive men, no-good men, baby-daddy men . . . But what Daddy didn’t know wasn’t gonna kill him.

  “I’m gonna trust her, and the good Lord above, that you are the man she believes you to be, but I’m gonna let you know man to man, if you hurt my daughter, you won’t live to hurt another living soul.”

  “I can understand and respect that, sir,” SeanMichael reverentially answered.

  “And it’s with that understanding that my wife and I give you permission to marry our daughter.”

  A slow grin spread across SeanMichael’s face. “Thank you, Mr. Turner. Thank you, Mrs. Turner. I am truly honored, blessed, and highly favored of God.” He then turned to me. “Candis, you are the woman I’ve prayed about and prayed for, and I would be even more honored . . .” He paused as he slid from the chair and to one knee, digging in his pocket and pulling out a black velvet box, which made me grab at my chest and gasp. “If you would have me as your husband by taking my hand in marriage.” He cracked the lid of the box to reveal a full-carat marquise-cut diamond set in white gold. It was the same one that I’d sent him a picture of that he said he couldn’t afford. “Candis Lorraine Turner, will you marry me?”

  From nowhere tears flooded my eyes. “Yes!” I exclaimed in a whisper.

  SeanMichael took my left hand and twisted the ring he’d previously sent me off my finger, then replaced it with the new ring, which I just couldn’t take my eyes off of. Somehow, I managed to stand up with wobbly knees, no longer caring about his stained shirt, his battered shoes, or his peasy head, and throw my arms around him.

  “I love you, Candis,” he told me again. And I knew in the bottom of my heart and in the depth of my soul that he meant it.

  And just wait until Dina and Celeste saw my new ring!

  Chapter 35

  Dina

  The day couldn’t have gone more perfectly for Candis. While none of us could really speak to the kind of man SeanMichael truly was, we all saw how elated Candis was on her wedding day. We could only trust that Candis had sought God, received an answer, and had peace about taking his hand in marriage. Celeste and I were right there, supporting her, as she was given the royal treatment with hair, makeup, a fresh manicure and pedicure, and assisted into her gown. What a radiant and beautiful bride she made, and I couldn’t have been happier for her. As I saw her come down the aisle to be joined with the man she loved, it did make me think of Bertrand and wish things had turned out better between us. But they hadn’t.

  Honestly, I envied her luck in finding true love and following her heart all the way to the altar, but my envy had its limitations. While every woman wanted to be in a stunning white gown and have everyone dote on her, especially the man she was committing her life to, I wasn’t ready to marry Bertrand. No, I take that back. It wasn’t that I wasn’t ready. Bertrand was just not the right man for me. I’d never been one to support cohabitation, but living with him taught me the value of my own freedom and independence, and showed me just what kind of man Bertrand truly was. He indeed was all of the wonderful things that not just I, but other people, saw on the outside: he was nice, courteous, respectable, and a gentleman in many ways. However, underneath, he was controlling and didn’t respect me as an adult. There had been many conversations between us where he’d in one way or another shown me that.

  Celeste thought I was crazy, of course, not able to understand how I wouldn’t just sit back and let a man take care of me. “Girl, I wish E would have gotten a job and said, ‘Baby, you ain’t gotta work. I’ma take care of everything.’ He wouldn’t have had to tell me twice. I woulda quit my job so quick, it woulda make his head spin.”

  That all sounded good, and Bertrand was willing to take care of me, but only to the degree that he wanted to. Only to the degree that he could control me. I had no say-so, voice, or opinion in things I felt couples should discuss and make decisions on. He would move only when he wanted to, and did only what he wanted, and when he wanted. And he never did agree to add that infidelity clause to that so-called prenuptial agreement he’d thrown in my face.

  “How are you going to tell me what to do in my own house?” Bertrand had barked when I’d asked him a second time about throwing out his old stuff.

  “It’s disrespectful, Bertrand.”

  “I had a past before you, but I’m with you now.”

  “We all have a past, but still, don’t you think the past needs to be cleaned up and done away with so we can start on a fresh and clean foundation? Instead of trying to build a marriage on layers of junk? I don’t want to be finding somebody’s old crusty panties and old love letters.”

  He blew me off and didn’t even acknowledge what I’d said. Even after I poured my heart out and told him how much it bothered me, he didn’t budge. He didn’t move. And to me that meant he didn’t care. It was definitely in my best interest to end things. I knew without a shadow of a doubt that I’d done the right thing in breaking our engagement and going my separate way. I could be nothing but extremely grateful that it didn’t take me getting married first. While I didn’t really believe that God had orchestrated a shacking situation for me, I was thankful that he had mercy on me through that time that I lived with Bertrand, and opened up my eyes to the things that I’d seen. Of course, Bertrand tried to convince me to stay and work things out, but I felt that his actions spoke louder than his words. His ego ruled his decision making, not what was logical or necessary for the betterment of our relationship.

  Since Candis was going to be moving across the country with her new husband, she sublet her apartment to me, which spared me the probable failure of a credit check and forking over an application fee and a security deposit. She even paid up her rent two months out, which gave me a nice cushion for getting reset and reestablished on my own. I’d already transitioned my things from Bertrand’s house, and not that surprisingly, he didn’t put up any resistance to me calling things off and moving out.

  “I still love you, Dina,” he’d said when I gave him his key back.

  I guess at the end of the day his love just wasn’t enough to sustain a proper husband and wife relationship. The Kobe Bryant–size diamond ring wasn’t enough. I’d wished him the best, given it b
ack, and walked away with a clean heart and a clear mind. I’d have my day one day, but today was Candis’s day, and I was happy to be her maid of honor instead of her matron of honor.

  Chapter 36

  Celeste

  On our cues, we walked down the aisle ahead of Candis. Then she had her glorious moment in the sun, escorted by Mr. Turner. The wedding was as beautiful as any wedding could have been, and with applause, we all celebrated the couple, introduced for the first time as Mr. and Mrs. SeanMichael Monroe.

  Now that I’d gotten over some of my own hurts and failures, I could really celebrate with her, instead of feeling a sense of jealousy for what I wished I’d had. Since I’d had my heart attack, as soon as I was able to, I’d committed to an exercise program. Whether I felt like it or not, rain or shine, I put my tennis shoes on and began doing better by my body by walking. It was hard at first, but before I knew it, I was up to five miles a day and enjoying every step. During those walks, I spent a lot of time in prayer, just thanking God for His mercy and His grace. I’d come to realize that my life was a precious gift from Him, and I was no longer going to waste it, but would live it to the fullest.

  Each day I asked Him to help me with my eating choices so that I could get better and get healthy, and Him being the gentle and loving Father that He is, He answered my prayers. Instead of gravitating to the foods I’d always loved, I found myself loving new foods, unprocessed and healthy foods, fruits and vegetables and whole grains. Sometimes I did crave fried chicken and ice cream, and sometimes I treated myself to them, but food was no longer my source of comfort. I no longer tried to eat my way to happiness.

  I found happiness in the fact that I was no longer living my life in danger. My children were no longer being exposed to unnecessary drama and a negative example of what a man should be. I thanked God continuously for my daddy, who was an excellent example for my boys, and while I was sure they missed Equanto just because he was, and would always be, their father—for my youngest two boys—my daddy left nothing lacking outside of the title of biological father. My boys were happier, healthier, and were even performing better in school. They even looked better physically.