Her First (16 page)

“It’s my fault. I should have reminded you.”

“I got it. I was only teasing.  They‘re still out in the trunk of my car.”

“Where are your keys? I’ll bring them into the garage.”

She walked to the counter and handed him the keys.

“Press the left button to turn off the alarm. The right button will pop open the trunk,” she told him.

“Yes ma’am,”
Ethan said as he headed out to get what he would need in order to get the fire started tomorrow. 

***

Madison peeled potatoes as Ethan seasoned the meat.

Madison
commented, “This is fun. Our first event as a couple.”

“Are you nervous about tomorrow?” he asked.

“I was, but everything between us seems so real.”

Ethan
stopped what he was doing and looked her directly in the eyes. “It is real.”

“I wish,”
Madison said under her breath.

“It could be. It’s all up to you.”

Madison opened her mouth to ask him what he meant, but didn’t. Instead she started talking about her family members. “Word is probably out to my cousins too, so don’t be surprised if we have more people here than we planned.”

“I can handle it. Don’t worry. We’re in this together.” He winked.

She put the potatoes on to boil. “I’m going upstairs to take a bubble bath. Can you watch this for me?”

“Sure. Take your time.”

She felt his eyes on her as she left the room.

Her plans changed from a bath to a shower. The water was soothing. She thought of
Ethan as she lathered the Temple Bath & Body Strawberry Delight shower gel onto her sponge.

If only you were my real husband,
she thought.
I wouldn’t be taking a shower alone for one thing.

She turned the water off and reached for her towel. It was on the other side of the sink, so she stepped out dripping water on the rug.

She sprayed on some Strawberry Delight body mist before drying off completely. She closed her eyes and imagined Ethan rubbing her body in the places she rubbed her lotion. She was putting on her clothes when she heard a knock at the door.

“Your mother’s on the phone,”
Ethan yelled.

She opened the door slightly and reached her hand out for the phone. “Thanks.”  She closed the door back. “Hi Mom.”

“I had a nice long conversation with your husband. For the life of me, I can’t figure out why you two rushed to Vegas. He told me you weren’t pregnant, so that’s reassuring.”

“Mom!”

“I asked him because I knew you weren’t going to tell me anything.”

“I can’t believe you asked him that.”

“I sure did and anything else I wanted to know.”

“Like what else?”

“Our conversation is between him and me. I called to see if you needed me to bring anything tomorrow, but he told me what you were cooking, so I’ll bring my appetite.”

“Ask Dad to be on his best behavior.” She pulled up the legs of her jogging pants.

“Now you know I can’t control him. Never have. Never will.” Her mother’s voice sounded muffled as she continued to talk. “Let me go. Napoleon’s trying to fix the sink and apparently something didn’t work because I hear him in their cussing.”

Madison
laughed. “He needs to call the plumber.”

“We’re talking about your father.” Ethel laughed.

“Bye Mom.”

“See you tomorrow.” Ethel hung up.

***

Ethan
laughed as Madison did her best to find out what he and her mother had talked about. He sat at the table and watched her make potato salad, pasta salad and some other dish he wasn’t familiar with. 

“You can bat your eyes and unzip your jogging suit…well, don’t do that.” He paused before continuing to say, “I’m not telling you what we talked about.”

“I’m calling your mom and telling her a few things about you.”

“Go right ahead. She knows me like a book.”

“Does she know her son is an egotistical hard-headed uncooperative jerk?” Madison pouted.

“She should. She raised me.” He laughed.

Madison bubbled over with laughter. “You’re really not going to tell me?”

“Nope.”

She opened up a can of evaporated milk and then began measuring sugar. She looked up. “I guess you won’t be sampling any of my banana pudding either.”

A wicked thought crossed his mind. “It’s probably best that I don’t sample. Knowing me, I would want the entire bowl.”

Madison almost dropped the bowl she had gotten out of the cabinet.

“What’s wrong,
Madison?”

She paused before saying, “Uh nothing.”

He smiled because now he knew he had her. “If I tell you what we talked about, will you allow me to
taste
your pudding?”

“Never mind.”

He walked behind her and planted small kisses on her neck. “Are you sure? I’m willing to tell you everything.”

Stuttering,
Madison replied, “Some things are best left unknown.”

“Exactly.” He stopped and began walking out of the kitchen. He felt a dishtowel on his back. He stopped, turned around and picked it up.  He then threw it on the table, laughed and continued out the door.

The next morning, Madison was awakened by the sound of chirping birds outside her window. She smelled the aroma of meat being cooked on a grill. She stretched.  Normally she hated getting up early on Saturday mornings, but today she felt refreshed. Her last memory of the previous night included the warmth of Ethan’s arms. They were watching one of her favorite romantic comedies prior to her falling asleep.

She ran some bath water and soaked in the tub for almost thirty minutes.

After going through the closet and her unpacked suitcase, she couldn’t find anything she wanted to wear. She threw on a pair of jeans and one of her sorority t-shirts. She couldn’t find her tennis shoes, so she wore her slippers instead.

Ethan
was in the kitchen when she walked downstairs.

“Good morning, sleepyhead,” he said to her.

“Good morning. How did I get upstairs?” she asked, admiring how fine he looked in his t-shirt that showed off his bulging muscles.

“You fell asleep, so I carried you upstairs.”

“Oh.” She poured a glass of orange juice.

“I got a surprise for you.”

She perked up. “What?”

“I bought us matching outfits yesterday.”

“You’re going a little too far with this husband and wife thing aren’t you?” She leaned on the cabinet.

“I can always tell them that we’re pretending if that’s going to be a problem,” he threatened.

“You wouldn’t.” She stood straight.

“Not if you continue to cooperate.” He winked.

“I’ll wear the stupid outfit. Where is it?” She placed the cup on the cabinet.

“It’s lying across my bed. After I put this other meat on, I’ll go shower and change.” He walked out the back door. “Shut the door for me.”

“I can really get used to this. If only it was the real thing,” she said as she walked out.

The doorbell rang before she could reach the top of the stairway.

She ran back downstairs and yelled, “Who is it?”

“Frederick,” she heard him yell from the other side of the door.

She opened the door and Frederick stood wearing a Mavericks’ jersey and jeans. He leaned down and hugged her and kissed her on the cheek. “Hey sister-in-law.”

“Now you know better,”
Madison said, hitting him on the arm.

“I’m practicing, so that when the family gets here I won’t be caught off guard,” Frederick chuckled.

“Thanks.”

“I still don’t see what the big deal is.  But hey, if my brother is going along with it, who am I to mess up what y’all got going?”

“Your brother’s out back.” Madison pointed.

“Somebody lied and told him he could throw down on the grill. Let me go show him how it’s really done.”

She watched Frederick walk out.

“This is going to be a long day,” she sighed as Frederick made his way to his brother.

Ethan
was surprised to see Frederick. “Man, what are you doing here?” he said.

“I told you I wasn’t about to miss out on some free food,” Frederick answered.

“I take it you saw Madison.”

“Yep. She seemed cool, so I take it she understood the
Sarah situation.”

They were startled when
Madison asked, “What situation?”

Ethan
looked at Frederick. He looked away. “Nothing. We were discussing how awkward the entire situation has turned out.”

“I’m no longer worried about
Sarah and neither should you.” She reached up and kissed him on the lips.  “Do you need anything from the store? I need to run out and get a few things.”

“Do you have any brew?” Frederick asked.

“There’s some in the fridge. Bottom right,” Ethan intervened. He then turned to Madison and said, “Sweetie, bring back a couple bags of ice.”

“I will. I need to change clothes and I’ll be back shortly.” She walked away.

Ethan sighed. “Whew that was close.”

Frederick whispered, “I can tell you guys really care about each other. I would hate to see you get hurt because you weren’t being completely honest.”

“If she can’t understand, then it’s her problem.” He pretended not to care. “She’s the one going around lying.”

“So are you, my man. So are you,” Frederick said as he patted
Ethan on the back.

***

“Do I look alright?” Ethan asked.

“You look perfect,”
Madison replied then licking her lips.

“Ms.
Allen let’s go do this.”

She frowned. “You mean Mrs.
Campbell.”

“Sorry. I guess I’m nervous.”

She looped her arm around his neck and kissed him.  “Now you have something else to be nervous about.”

She sashayed out of his bedroom. He followed her.  When they made it downstairs, her brothers were out back.

They hugged her. “How’s my favorite little sister?” Gerald asked.

“I’m doing great big brother,” she responded.

“What’s up, man?” Gerald asked before shaking Ethan’s hand.

Madison
turned to Ethan and said, “I’ll be back.”

He watched her walk away.

“If you weren’t already married to my little sister, I would have to break your neck,” Jerry joked as he walked up and shook Ethan’s hand.

“How’re you doing? Y’all didn’t have any trouble finding us did you?” 
Ethan asked.

“No.  We found it just fine,” Jerry asked as they all walked towards the grill.  “How long have you been living here?”

“A little over a year. Everything’s not like I want it, but I told Madison she could decorate the inside. I want to make a few more changes out here.”

“I like the deck,” Gerald commented.

“I had it added on after I moved in.  We have enough land back here for me to get a hot tub installed.”

“Now that
would be nice. Me and the wife might have to drop by more often,” Jerry commented.

Gerald shook his head. “How are you going to invite yourself over to somebody else’s house? Welcome to the family man.” He reached out and placed his hand on
Ethan’s shoulder.

Madison
’s entire family showed up within the hour. The men and kids were outside and most of the women were inside the kitchen and dining room area.  Madison walked outside and whispered in Ethan’s ear.

“I hope I remember where everything is,” she said to him.  “They’re pressing me for a tour
.  I don’t want them to see we live in separate rooms.”

“I can go with you if you like.”

“No. Stay out here and entertain the men.”

She walked back into the house. “Ladies, are y’all ready for the tour?” she asked.  “Deposit a dollar in the jar when we’re finished.”

“Ha ha,” April chided.

Madison
looped her arm through her mom’s and led them back towards the front door. “To my left is the living room.” Since she wasn’t too sure herself what was in the rooms, she ad-libbed as she showed them the living room, den and office downstairs.  It was now time to show them the upstairs.

“Mom, do you need some help?”
Madison asked her mother.

“No, I think I’ll be able to make it up these stairs,” her mother replied.

They were all amazed at the spaciousness of the house. After showing off the décor of other portions of the house, Madison tried to steer away from the bedrooms.

Adrienne placed her hand on the master bedroom doorknob. “I want to see the master bedroom.”

Ethel said, “Maybe she wants a little privacy.”

“It’s alright, Mom.” She walked forward. Adrienne moved out of the way. She sighed before opening the door.

Everybody was amazed at the high post bed.

Madison
had to admit; this was the one room Ethan had decorated perfectly.

“This is where I like to sit and read,”
Madison said as she sat on the beautiful chaise in the corner by the window.

“I don’t blame you. This is a nice view of the backyard too,” Pam commented.

“On this side you can see the front yard,” Ethel noted.

“I love your bathroom,” Janice stated.

April added, “It’s a little too manly for me though.”

“Everybody is not into pinks and baby blues like you,” Adrienne sneered.

Ethel shot Adrienne a look. “Ladies, I think we’ve invaded Madison and Ethan’s privacy enough.”

The
y exited the room and Madison closed the door behind them. Adrienne lagged behind and whispered while spreading her two fingers, “April is this close from me telling her off.”

“You need to quit,”
Madison told her.

“She thinks she’s the only one who knows how to decorate.”

Ethel said, “Shh. If I can hear you, she can too.”

“I don’t care,” Adrienne stated.

“Please save it for another time,” Madison pleaded.

Adrienne moved pass everyone and walked outside.

***

The men set up the tables and chairs. The kids sat at one table and the men and women at the other tables.
Ethan, Frederick, Madison and her parents sat at the same table.

Ethan
stood up. He looked down towards his right side at Madison and smiled.  “Madison and I would like to thank everyone for coming today,” he said.  “With my job schedule, I know this is only your second time meeting me, but I feel like I’m part of the family already.”

Frederick, who was sitting on his left, accidentally spilled his drink.
Ethan cut his eyes at him.

“Mr.
Allen, Will you bless the food?” Ethan asked as he sat down and squeezed Madison’s hand.

Napoleon said, “Hold the person’s hands sitting next to you and bow your heads please.” He paused before praying. “Father, we would like to thank you for this beautiful day. Thank you for bringing my family together one more time. I know you are an all-knowing God. Please bless this union between my daughter and son-in law…”

Ethan looked at Madison after she squeezed his hands a little too tight. He saw tears flowing down her face. He was tempted to reach over and wipe her face, but he refrained.

Napoleon continued to pray. “Watch over my grandkids as they deal with issues of this world. Bless this food we’re about to eat. Amen.”

Everyone said, “Amen.”

“Let’s grub,” Napoleon said with a smile on his face.

Everyone piled food on their plates. Light conversations were made in between bites.

“I could kiss whoever cooked these beans,”
Ethan said after eating a mouthful.

Adrienne blushed. “I’m glad you like them.
Madison begged me to make them for you.”

“I’m glad she did. The barbecue would have been incomplete without them,”
Ethan complemented.

Madison
was glad her family and Ethan were getting along great. “I’ll be right back. I need to get the dessert out the kitchen,” Madison said.

Ethan
stood and said, “I’ll help you.”

Frederick said, “It takes both of y’all…”

Before he could finish, Napoleon interrupted. “Let them be, son. Newlyweds are strange creatures.”

Madison
and Ethan smiled as they walked into the kitchen. She sighed. “Whew. This has been a day.”

“You’re doing fine,” he told her.

“I know, but Frederick almost-”

“He’s pulling your string. He likes to joke, and if he knows he’s got you sweating, he’ll continue to get in jabs.”

They both turned when they heard a knock at the door. “Who could that be? Everybody I invited is here,” Madison stated.

“I don’t know. Wait right here and I’ll go see.”
Ethan walked away.

Madison
opened the refrigerator and took out the banana pudding and lemon meringue pie. She was placing them on the table when Ethan walked in with a woman she had never met.

“
Madison, this is Joyce.” Ethan hand gestured. “Joyce, Madison.”

Madison
reached her hand out. Joyce pulled her in for a hug and said, “Girl, we’re like family. Give me a hug.”

“Nice meeting you,”
Madison said.

“I would have been over here earlier, but my boys had a game.”

“We’re about to eat dessert, but there’s still food outside, so help yourself,” Madison stated.

Madison
picked up the banana pudding and was about to pick up the lemon meringue pie when Joyce said, “Let me help you with that.”