Forgiveness and Second Chances (9 page)

“Welcome to our home,” he said, guiding her in. “Sorry it took so long.”

She took in the sight of his house as they walked in. He showed her to the living room, which was decorated in natural colors. He had a big-screen TV above a fireplace, a brown suede sofa and loveseat, and two small coffee tables. “You have a lovely home.”

“Thank you.” He kissed her cheek, making it warm. “Make yourself at
home. I’ll be right back—let me check on the food.” He left to what she assumed was the kitchen.

Alanie came running from the back room and gave her a hug. “Hi, Ms. Malanie!”

She hugged her back. “Hi, baby. I’ve missed you.”

“Me too.”

“How was school?” she asked.

“It was okay. I got a B on my math test. Thank you for helping me understand dividing decimals.” They sat down.

“Any time. I love numbers.”

Jeremy came back out of the kitchen. “Dinner is ready.”

“We made your favorite. Lasagna, without ricotta cheese, extra mozzarella,” Alanie said, excited.

Malanie stared at Jeremy. “You remembered.”

He smiled. “The table is set.” They moved to the dining room, sat down, and at Jeremy’s nod, Alanie said a prayer.

“God is great, God is good, and we thank you for our food. By his mercy we are fed. Give us, Lord, our daily bread.”

They picked up their forks and started eating. “Mmm, this is so good,” Malanie said, guiding her fork through her lips.

Jeremy just stared at her mouth, the way it wrapped around her fork.
I forgot how arousing her full lips are
.

“I’m happy you liked it, Mom,” Alanie said. “It’s okay if I call you Mom?”

Malanie couldn’t get the words out of her mouth fast enough. “Yes, it’s okay.”

Jeremy stared at their interactions. “Finally,” he whispered.

After they ate, Jeremy and Alanie took her on a tour of their house and backyard. She fell in love with his garden. It was filled with flowers and vegetables, from tomatoes to cucumbers.

“I didn’t know you were into gardening?”

He chuckled. “I wasn’t, until I got the house, and the garden was included.”

“Dad and I spend quality time out here,” Alanie said, pulling a weed.

“Carolyn helps out.”

After the tour, they all sat down, and watched a movie until Alanie fell asleep on her dad’s lap. He picked her up, and they both walked into her room, he laid her down on her bed. Her room was decorated in white and lilac colors, with flowers everywhere. He kissed her cheeks, said good night, clicked on her night light and grabbed Malanie by her hand, walking her out of their little girl’s room.

“Thank you for a great night,” she said, picking up her purse.

“Do you have to leave already?” He took her purse from her. “Let me pour you a glass of wine.”

“Sure.”

She followed him into the kitchen. “Red or white?”

“Red.” She sat at the island.

He poured wine into a glass and handed it to her.

“Where’s yours?” she asked.

“I haven’t drank liquor since that night.”

She gazed at him, and he couldn’t stop observing her, how beautiful she was. Her hair was still naturally curly. He remembered how he used to love playing with her hair. She drew the goblet to her lips and a small moan escaped his mouth. Thankfully, she didn’t hear it. Her juicy, full lips, which still had a hint of lip gloss, were calling him.

She gazed at him. “Tonight meant a lot.”

“It meant a lot to Alanie and me, too. How’s therapy coming along?”

“It’s helping a lot. I’ve learned how to channel my feelings.” She sipped her wine. “The abuse wasn’t my fault.”

“No man has the right to put his hands on a woman,” he said, gazing at her. “At least not in a violent way.”

He just gazed at her, and slowly brought his hand to a lock of her hair and started rubbing it between his fingers. “I missed this,” he whispered, moving forward.

She picked up the goblet and took another sip, gazing into his eyes. “I missed our friendship.”

“Is that all you missed?” he asked, still touching her hair.

She put down the glass. “I made so many mistakes. If only I could do things over.”

“We both made mistakes. Mistakes we are trying to make right.”

She stared at the last bit of wine. “What if it’s too late?”

“It’s never too late….” He cupped her face.

She leaned in and their lips finally met, opening for each other, after almost eleven years apart. It felt like slow motion. His entire body went numb with arousal. As if trying to make up for all the lost time, his tongue took control of hers, making love to her mouth, tasting her wine.

No kiss had ever made her feel so wanted or desired. His tongue was talented, leading her to do anything it commanded. A moan escaped her as she placed her fingertips in his silky, brown hair.

His hands made their way around her waist, pulling her closer before he backed away, trying to catch his breath. He was about to kiss her again when she put her hands on his chest. “I think I should leave,” she sighed, out of breath.

He gave her a soft, lingering kiss and released her. “You’re right.”

They went to the living room and Malanie grabbed her purse. Jeremy followed her to the front door and opened it. “I’ve been meaning to ask you something.”

“Ask.”

“Would you be my date to the Navy Ball?”

“When?”

“Next month. October 13th.”

She gazed at him, smiling. “Yes, I would love to.”

“Good morning, Ace Accounting. This is Malanie Johnson. How can I help you?”

“Don’t hang up, it’s Carmen. I need to apologize.” Malanie kept silent. “Can we meet for lunch?”

“Fine, I’ll meet you at the small Chinese restaurant on Phillips Road. But I have to go. I’m very busy right now. Twelve thirty?”

“I’ll see you there.” She hung up.

Malanie just stared at the phone.
What is she up to now?

Malanie chose that specific restaurant because she knew Jeremy usually went there for lunch. She sat near the exit, waiting for Carmen to make her grand entrance.

Something was up. She had a bad feeling, as she sat sipping on her glass of lemonade.

Carmen came in with a big grin on her face. “You came. I thought you would stand me up.” She sat in front of Malanie, looking around.

“I told you I would.” She looked at her former friend suspiciously.

“Malanie, I’m so sorry for the things I said to you. I didn’t mean it. I know Luis needs help and I told him.”

“He does needs help, but that’s not my problem anymore.”

“I always thought you could fix him.”

“Fix him, Carmen? He is not a machine. He needs professional help. Maybe something happened to him as a child or he is mimicking what he saw. Therapy has helped me a lot. It might help him too.”

Jeremy, Derrick, and Briana entered the restaurant. Malanie could overhear they were talking about work. Jeremy’s gaze met hers and she smiled.

Carmen looked over to where she was smiling. “Damn, who’s that?”

Jeremy waved, and continued past with the waitress.

Carmen followed him with her eyes, then focused back on her. “I love men in uniform.”

“That’s Jeremy.”

“Naw….” She looked over at his table. “He sure has grown up to a fine specimen.”

Malanie cleared her throat. “I thought you didn’t like him?”

“That was then, but now….”

She didn’t like how Carmen was gawking at Jeremy. “So, what have you been up to lately?”

“Nothing much. I broke up with Devin, and that’s why I’m back. I need to find someone better, someone that can take care of me,” she said, taking a glance over at Jeremy again.

“You need to get a job, and stop using men.”

“Look at me.” She touched her body. “They use me as much as I use them. Why shouldn’t I collect?”

“Carmen, you give women like me a bad name.”

“Oh, hush…you’re just jealous.”

“Of what?”

“Me, my body….”

She really believed it. Malanie started laughing. “Please, I’m my own woman. I don’t depend on any man to give me what I want or need. But believe me, when I’m ready, I’ll find a strong man who can handle me.”

“The way my cousin did?”

“No, Carmen! A man that can handle me without laying his hands on me.” At that moment she thought of Jeremy.

“Fuck,” Carmen said, looking outside.

“What?” She turned too.

“Luis is here, and before you ask me, I didn’t invite him. I bet he followed me,” Carmen said, pissed off, getting up.

“Sit down.” She tugged on her arm. “I can handle him. He can’t hurt me anymore.” She looked up as Luis entered the restaurant.

He strolled over to their table and sat without being invited. “Hi, Carmen. Hey, baby.”

“What are you doing here?” Carmen asked.

“I wanted to see Malanie, since she banned me from her home, and I don’t want to impose on her at work.” He gazed at Malanie. “I miss you.”

She didn’t answer, feeling tense. She was about to lose her composure. This man in front of her had the nerve to talk to her after all he’d done.
Don’t lose it. Remain calm. He can’t hurt you.

Malanie smiled, giving him hope, until she said, “Well, I haven’t missed you.” She glared at him without even blinking.

“You don’t mean that.”

“I meant what I said. I’ve moved on, and I’m finally happy again. You tried to break my spirit, but it didn’t work. You’re just a coward, trying to prey on the weak. Guess what? I’m not weak anymore.” Despite the direct words, her hands shook, and her left eye started twitching.

“I promise I’ll get help. I love you.” He tried to grab hold of her hands.

On automatic, she pulled them away. “I don’t love you,” she said sternly.

“Don’t say that!” He raised his voice. “Enough is enough, Malanie. You’ve been away too long.”

“You’re right. It’s been over seven months since I broke up with you and you still don’t get it. It’s over between you and me. I’m not in love with you.”

As soon as Jeremy saw Luis come in, his jaw clenched. He was about to stand up when Derrick grabbed his arm. “Don’t.”

“That’s the asshole that beat her up.”

“She’s not alone. If she needs you, she’s got us. We’ll be right here.”

Jeremy sat back down, gawking over at her table. “If he touches her….”

“What Jeremy? What?” Briana asked, upset. “Is she worth you going to Captain’s mast?”

Jeremy gave Briana his attention. “Yes, she is worth it.”

With that, she kept silent and finished eating. His appetite gone, he pushed his meal away and glared at her table, waiting for her ex to make a move.

He could tell she was about to fall apart. Her eye was twitching and even from across the room, he could see her hands shaking. “She needs me.”

“Fuck, Jeremy, you make me sick. She doesn’t need you.” Briana stood and stormed out of the restaurant.

“What the fuck was that about?”

“I don’t know and I don’t care. Check out her hands.”

Derrick looked over. “Jeremy, she might need to handle this on her own. This is a part of the healing process.” He thought for a second. “When I was finally face to face with my abuser, I felt like I was going to fall apart, but I kept telling myself I needed it for closure. I told him how I felt about everything he did to me. I finally realized it wasn’t my fault. He was to blame, not me.” Derrick had been physically abused as a child, by his mother’s boyfriend. “We are right here. If he lifts a finger toward her, I personally will take care of him.”

“You’re right.”

“You’re very possessive of Malanie. Are you falling for her?”

“I think I never fell out.”

Luis stood up and leaned near Malanie’s face, but Carmen pulled his arm. “I swear, if you touch her—”

He snatched her hands off his arm, and Malanie stood up to him. “I’m not afraid of you, so give me your best shot,” she yelled.

“You’re going to regret talking to me like you just did. You never knew when to shut up.”

She smiled. He took a step closer to her, balling his fist.

Before Jeremy could get up, Derrick was already out of his seat, rushing over. He pushed Luis out of Malanie’s face and turned to her. “Are you okay?”

“Yes…” she whispered.