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Authors: Lutishia Lovely

BOOK: Divine Intervention
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49
This Is My Confession
K
ing opened the door to a quiet home. He was still getting used to the sound of it. Tai had been six months pregnant when they married over a quarter century ago. Their last kids, twins Timothy and Tabitha, were six years younger than their oldest, Michael. Princess was in between them. So, basically, they’d had children in their house their whole marriage. Until now. For the twins, their best friends had long ago replaced Mama and Daddy as who they’d rather hang out with, and when home, they stayed holed up in their rooms. In three short months, Tabitha would be moving to Los Angeles to attend UCLA and Timothy would follow Michael’s footsteps to Northwestern University in Chicago to study law. King and Tai had often talked about how they’d celebrate their empty nest. King could only hope that after the conversation he had with Tai . . . there’d still be reason to party.
After allowing the driver to place his luggage in the foyer, offering a generous tip and sending the man on his way, King walked down the hallway into the living room. “Tai!”
“I’m upstairs. I’ll be down in a minute!”
King followed the delicious smells into the kitchen. He peaked through the oven glass and smiled. Braised short ribs was one of his favorites. He lifted the lids to one of the pots on the stove.
Umm. Garlic mashed potatoes.
He lifted a final lid. Fresh green beans with corn on the cob filled the pan.
Dang, woman, you threw down!
“Like what you see?”
King turned around. As he took in the vision before him, the quick retort he’d prepared died on his lips. Tai was leaning against the doorjamb in a saucy pose, her full hips and generous breasts on full display beneath a thigh-high caftan. Its silky fabric, emblazoned with bold, geometric shapes in primary colors, was very forgiving of the extra pounds Tai carried, and the inch-high, satin mules that covered her feet emphasized her strong, shapely calves.
King’s eyes traveled from the tip of her toes to the top of her curls before he looked in her eyes and warmly responded, “I like what I see . . . very much.”
Tai pushed away from the door and entered the kitchen. King took two steps and was enveloped in her open arms. “I very much like what I see . . .
very
much.”
How could I ever have jeopardized this? We’ve worked so hard....
“You’re a pretty nice sight for sore eyes, too.” She hugged him, snuggled into him, loving the feel of his hard shoulder beneath her cheek, and the scent of his cologne.
King pulled back, once again looking into Tai’s eyes as he traced her face with his finger. “I like your hair short like this. It emphasizes your cheekbones, those beautiful brown eyes ... and these.” He leaned over and placed a whisper of a kiss on Tai’s lips. She moaned, placed her arms around King’s neck and deepened the exchange. Opening her mouth, she molded her body against that of the only man she’d ever known intimately, the only man she’d ever truly loved. He responded by sliding his hands down to her backside, giving each cheek a generous squeeze as he ground a quickly hardening erection against her willing flesh.
“Umm . . .” Tai’s head fell back against the wall, leaving a perfect opening for King’s tongue to slide across her cheek, down her neck, and into her bosom. “The food’s ready,” she managed to whisper, as her nipple hardened into a perfect peak.
“You’ve awakened a different kind of appetite.” King’s tongue formed a trail from one nipple to the other. “Where are the twins?”
“Won’t be back until late,” Tai managed, her breath coming heavier, her body on fire.
King lifted Tai into his arms and walked them over to the breakfast nook.
“The food,” Tai whispered, as he gingerly set her down. “Turn off the burners . . . and the oven.”
King walked over to the stove and made quick work of her request. When he turned back to look at his wife his eyes were black with desire, his dick ready to burst out of its trouser confines. He unbuckled his belt, unzipped his slacks, and let them fall right there on the kitchen floor. Still staring at Tai, he stepped out of them, his shoes and his boxers. Mr. Happy was delighted and Miss Kitty purred her appreciation. Tai was glad that she’d not bothered to put on underwear. It was one less piece of clothing she’d have to take off. “Come here, baby,” she said, her voice as slick as her nana with wanting. “Come get this.”
“Your wish is my command.”
He sat down, and guided Tai onto his fully engorged shaft. A satisfied hiss escaped her mouth as she aligned her body with his, and they began a lover’s dance. She ground herself against him, and he raised himself for deeper thrusts. No words were spoken. But none were needed. Their bodies were communicating messages that no language ever could. They reacquainted themselves with each other’s anatomy: breasts, chest, arms, thighs, lips and tongues that swirled in the same motion as their lower bodies. Ecstasy came quickly, full and complete.
“Oh, baby!” Tai exclaimed, as her body shattered into a thousand pieces.
King grunted, increased his speed, and soon he too was spiraling over the edge . . . into an erotic paradise, an Eden of their own.
Some time later, King and Tai sat at the dining room table, enjoying the meal that Tai had earlier prepared. Tai watched King put a short end bone into his mouth and pull it out clean. She laughed, dotting his mouth with a napkin and removing sauce from his lips. “I’m glad you’re enjoying it,” she playfully said.
“I must admit...I’m enjoying this meat almost as much as I did that earlier course.”
The smile on Tai’s face slipped away, replaced by a look of subtle remorse. “I enjoyed it, too, baby. And I need to apologize for how rare that dish has been lately.”
King frowned. “What do you mean?” True, he and Tai hadn’t shared many intimacies as of late, but with the wedding, Derrick’s illness, and the state of his parents’ affairs . . . a lot had been going on and he told her so.
“I’m glad that you feel that way, but I know you’re a man with a voracious appetite and I plan to focus more on that in the future.” She leaned over and kissed him on the mouth. “I love you, King Brook.”
“I love you, too.”
After a rare occurrence of King helping Tai clean up the kitchen, the two lovers retired to their master suite. They showered together, both anticipating another round of lovemaking before the night was through. Tai asked about what had transpired in Barbados and King gave her the short version. “They want me to head up this new organization,” he finished.
“But you’re already so involved with Total Truth.”
“I know. I’d definitely have to reorganize my priorities.”
“So you’re thinking about doing it?”
“I probably shouldn’t.” He tried, but couldn’t look Tai in the eye.
Her antennae went up immediately, even as she scooted closer to his side. “Baby, what is it?”
“Nothing.”
He said this, but Tai noted the sudden tenseness of his body, and how the hands that not long ago had played a beautiful melody on her body were now removing her arm from around him.
What is going on?
King sat up in the bed as another heavy breath escaped him. He blinked his eyes rapidly.
Tai became worried.
Wait, are those tears he’s trying to hold back?
She couldn’t imagine what could have changed the mood so quickly, what it was about his possibly working closely with Wesley Freeman and other international ministers that would cause her husband such angst. “Baby, you always weigh everything out and make the right decision. This time will be no different.”
It already is,
is what he thought. “You’re probably right,” is what he said. When Tai tried once again to comfort him, he moved away from her and got out of bed.
“King, what’s going on?”
He stood with his back to her before turning around. Once he did, his chocolate brown eyes bore into hers for a long moment. “I love you so much, Tai. All that you are, all that you’ve been to me and this family. I never would have become who I am without you.”
“Oh, baby, don’t worry about me. I’ll do whatever I can to support you, even if—”
“Wait.” King stopped Tai before she could continue and before the tears that threatened began to fall. “Earlier you apologized for not being more attentive. Baby”—King dropped his head briefly, before standing straighter with his shoulders erect—“you’ve attended to me better than any woman ever could. Which is why this need to apologize to you hurts so much.”
Tai’s brow creased in confusion. “Why would you have to apologize to me?”
King sat on the bed and placed Tai’s hand between both of his. He worked to force the words past the lump in his throat, but determined that the only way for him to handle his mistake was by being truthful with his wife. His mind did a quick calculation of all the times he’d cheated, and all the times he’d lied. But no more. She deserved his faithfulness, and once again he’d failed her. But he never again wanted to keep secrets from Tai . . . even something as hard as this. “I slipped up again, baby.”
Tai’s heart dropped. “What do you mean?” She pulled her hand out of his grasp, believing she knew what he meant all too well.
“While in Barbados, I made a mistake.”
Tai’s entire body stilled as she absorbed his words. She didn’t have to ask for a more definitive explanation, didn’t need to ask for a better understanding. This wasn’t Tai Brook’s first time at this particular rodeo, and whatever the basis of this forthcoming apology. . . she knew that a filly was involved. Her eyes went from love and warmth to suspicion and coldness in an instant. But she did not say a word.
“It meant nothing,” King explained. “I was weak, she was there and—”
Whack!
The sound of Tai’s hand connecting with King’s jaw reverberated throughout the bedroom. She jumped out of bed, backing away from him as though he were a stranger.
“You fuck me, and
then
tell me this? You put yourself in me and
then
you find the courage to tell me that you’ve been with someone else?”
King stood, too. “Baby, I—”
“Don’t you dare ‘baby’ me.” Tears seemed to push against the back of Tai’s eyes, but anger prevented them from coming out. She turned away from him. “King, just get out.” Her voice was weary but otherwise devoid of emotion.
“Tai, just let me explain—”
With anger rising, she pushed through clenched teeth, “Get. Out. Now.”
King looked at Tai a long moment, feeling totally defeated. She was acting exactly as she should, had a right to be even angrier, matter of fact. Her point about the sex was well taken. This confession probably should have come out before they’d made love. But he’d been caught up in the moment where once again, his lower head overruled his higher one.
“Okay, Tai. I’ll leave. But you need to understand something. This conversation isn’t over. I won’t let this be over until you hear me out. I’ll fight tooth and nail against anything you throw at me, any argument you bring to me, no matter how valid. Understand?”
Tai crossed her arms. “Here’s what I understand, King. You promised me that you would never have another affair. You broke that promise. I promised that if you ever cheated on me again that I’d get a divorce. I don’t intend to break mine.”
King watched Tai leave the room before turning and walking into their large, custom-designed closet. He pulled on a pair of sweats, made a phone call, and fifteen minutes later was back in the same car that had dropped him off just hours before. The same bags that had been delivered to the foyer were now in the trunk, moving with King toward his ironic destination, the first place of refuge that came to mind. He tipped the driver and waved off the offer to have his bags carried up. Instead King gripped the handles of both rolling suitcases and after walking a short distance, knocked on the door. Silence. King waited, and then knocked again.
Finally, a gravelly voice sounded from the other side of the door. “Who is it?”
“It’s me, Dad,” King said with a heavy sigh. “Let me in.”
50
Father and Son (The Remix)
“O
kay, Carla, are you here?” Vivian asked.
“Yes.”
“Tai, I still have you on the line?”
“I’m here.”
“Good. Sorry about dropping you earlier, Carla. I’m still trying to get used to how to conference on this phone. Well, ladies,” Vivian continued, shifting the chair in her home office so that she could cross her legs and peer out the window. “I don’t even know where to begin for today’s call. So much has happened in this last month and, needless to say, neither SOS nor Ladies First has entered my mind.”
All three of these women were members of LF, a group exclusive to pastors’ wives, and were the backbone of the Sanctity of Sisterhood organization, a group Vivian founded to address the specific needs of women. For the past two years, Vivian, Tai, and Carla had enjoyed bimonthly conference calls, conversations that had initially begun as discussions about upcoming conferences and now extended to whatever was going on in each woman’s life.
“Carla, could you start us off with a prayer?” Vivian asked.
“Sure. Dear Heavenly Father, we thank you for this opportunity to gather together once again by way of this phone call. You said that where two or three of us are joined together, that you would be in the midst of us. So I thank you now, Lord, that you are here, joining us in our endeavors, guiding our thoughts and leading our actions. Thank you once again for healing our brother, Derrick. Thank you for your ministering angels, and the angels of protection that brought back King safely from his travels. Thank you for continuing to bless us, our families, and our ministries. Be with us now, Father God, as we move forward in your name. Amen.”
“Amen,” Vivian added.
Tai remained silent.
“How is Derrick?” Carla asked.
“Well, as Mother Moseley would say—may her soul rest in peace—Jesus is still in the healing business! Dr. Black says that Derrick’s recovery is nothing short of amazing. His motor skills are normal, the headaches have totally ceased, and there is no sign of any brain damage as a result of the tumor. Of course, he’ll have to continue to be closely monitored, but everyone is optimistic that Derrick will make a full and complete recovery and that this tumor will not grow back.”
“Thank God!” Carla said enthusiastically before her voice lowered as she continued. “Does that mean that brothah man is back in business . . . if you know what I mean?”
“Ha! I absolutely know what you mean and, trust and believe, my husband is back in stride again!”
“Well, thank God again!” Vivian and Carla laughed. “What about King?” Carla continued. “How was his time in Barbados?”
Silence.
“Tai?” Vivian asked, her voice suddenly laced with unease. She’d noticed that Tai had been silent, but considering that King had just arrived home last night, thought that her friend may have been still recuperating from their reunion. “You’re awfully quiet. Are you all right?”
More silence.
“Tai,” Vivian said softly. “What is it, sistah?”
Another long pause and then, “King cheated on me.”
“Jesus,” Carla hissed under her breath.
“Oh, no, Tai,” Vivian said, immediately feeling an intense wave of compassion and sadness for her friend.
“Oh, yes,” Tai replied calmly, a little bit too calmly for her friends. “He dropped this bomb on me last night when he came home, not long after we’d made love.” Now it was Vivian and Carla who had nothing to say. “He told me that this would never happen again,” Tai continued, almost as though she were talking to herself. “He promised me that I’d never have to feel this type of pain again. And after his being faithful for the longest time period since we’ve been married, at least that I’m aware of, I actually believed he meant it. Now look who’s the fool.”
“Certainly not you,” Carla retorted. “The woman who slept with your husband is foolish and King is crazy for letting it happen. . . but you didn’t have any part in it, Tai. Please don’t blame yourself or beat yourself up. You’ve done nothing wrong.”
“Who was it?” Vivian’s voice was soft, caring.
“I don’t know and it doesn’t matter. But while away, his ass cheated again and that’s all the information I need.”
Again, no words. What was there to be said?
“I understand if you don’t want to talk about this, sistah,” Carla began. “But I’m curious as to why King said anything in the first place. If he hadn’t told you what happened on the island, then his slipping and dipping may have stayed on the island.”
Tai told them about her and King’s conversation, and how after they’d enjoyed making love that she’d apologized for not being more intimately available. “He then confessed that he had an apology, too.”
“Wow,” Vivian said, slowly shaking her head and trying to wrap her brain around this unexpected conversation. “I’m just shocked, Tai. After everything you two have been through, I am surprised that he cheated. But I’m even more surprised that he told you.”
“Most men wouldn’t have come clean like that,” Carla added.
“Yeah, well, I guess his conscience was killing him and he felt the need to confess his sin.”
“That’s not an easy thing to do,” Carla said. “Believe me, I know.” And she did. Even though it was nearly five years ago that Carla had survived her own cheating scandal, the pain of it was something she’d never forget. “I know you’re angry, Tai. Hurt, disappointed, disillusioned . . . all of that. But the fact that he told you, especially since he didn’t have to, says a lot.”
“How are you feeling, Tai?” Vivian asked.
“Honestly? I don’t even know. Numb, I guess. I’m beyond anger; I’m just done. Through with King, and with this whole situation.”
“I’m so sorry this is happening,” Vivian said, still feeling Tai’s hurt in her own heart. “Where’s King now?”
“I don’t know. I kicked him out after he told me. He’s at a hotel, I guess.”
“What are you going to do?” Carla asked.
“Divorce him. Hold on a minute,” Tai said, rising from the couch as she did so. “There’s someone at the door.” She walked down the hallway and looked through the paned glass. “It’s King, with his father.”
“Reverend Doctor O?” Vivian’s voice reflected the surprise she felt. She was one of only a handful of people who knew the real deal between him and Mama Max. “He’s back in Kansas?”
“Back in Kansas and now on my doorstep. Let me get off here and handle this. Y’all pray for me.”

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