Secrets On Lake Drive (16 page)

“Glad you like it. You want some tea?”

“Sure.” Sean watched closely as I poured the
tea in the cup.

“Roman, do you want some tea?”

“Yes, Mommy.” I poured some tea for him, as
well.

“This is nice,” Sean said. “I’ve never done
anything like this before.”

“Well, there’s a first time for everything,
right?”

“Yep. That’s what they say.”

“So how long do you have for lunch?”

“I can take however long I want.”

“Oh yeah, that’s right. You’re the
boss.”

Roman interrupted our flow. “Mommy, can I
get on the swing?”

I looked at Sean with raised eyebrows, as if
to ask him if it was okay. He didn’t say anything. “Ah, yeah, sure.
Just be careful, hun.”

“Why did you look at me like that?” Sean
asked after Roman ran off.

“Because Roman is always asking me for
permission to do stuff when you’re his father.”

“And you’re his mother,” Sean responded.

I chose not to go any further with Sean’s
comment. The whole “mother” thing was getting out of hand.

I took a deep breath and looked around at
the park filled with kids. Parents were trying their hardest to
keep up with their little daredevils. Every park bench was
occupied. Laughter filled the air along with the squawking of the
birds flying near the full trees. There was a little breeze pushing
off of the lake, but the sun was so dominant that it warmed my body
the very instant I thought I was getting a chill. I reflected on
how much I love days like this in Milwaukee. Today was one of those
days that made me forget about our sometimes harsh winters. Summer
was Milwaukee’s light at the end of a long winter tunnel. It was
our reward for making it through winter.

Before Sean could say anything else about me
and my role as a mother for Roman, I changed the subject. “It is
such a wonderful day, isn’t it?”

“Yeah, it’s perfect. Before I met you, I
would’ve never done anything like this.”

“Why not?”

“Not my thing.”

“But you’re the one who came up with this
idea.”

“I know…only because I know you like stuff
like this.”

“And what do you like?” I asked.

“I like nice restaurants, theater, art, museums. I
love all the festivals and Jazz in the Park at Cathedral
Square.”

“Oh, okay. I’ve been to Jazz in the Park a few times
myself.”

“Nice out there, isn’t it?”

“Mmm hmm.”

“So what do you like to do in the city?”

“I like RiverSplash, Summerfest, of course,
and the state fair. Those are my favorites. I just like having fun
period and having a simple life.”

“Oh, so my lifestyle is too upscale,
huh?”

“I didn’t say that.”

“Yeah, you did. You think I’m a show off,
don’t you?”

I grinned. I know he assumed my answer would be yes
anyway.

“No, I don’t think you’re a show
off. I just think sometimes people try to live this glamorous
lifestyle to show other people that they’ve so-called
made it
or
something.”

“I don’t put on a show for anyone. But, at
the same time, I don’t hide my success either. If I see something I
want, I’ma go get it. It’s just that simple.”

“See, that’s what I’m talking about. Rich
guys like you think it’s a normal part of life to get everything
they want.”

“No, I don’t. I just think if I have enough money to
get what I want, then I’ma get it, like I said.”

“So you’re saying you bought that house on
Lake Drive because you wanted it and that’s all. It had nothing to
do with image.”

“I wanted a big house, so I bought a big
house.”

“There are plenty of big houses in
Milwaukee.”

“Yeah, that’s right, but I wanted the big
house on the lake. Is there anything wrong with that?”

“Not at all.” I bit into a cookie and noticed the
firm look on Sean’s face. He was thinking hard.

“You don’t have much respect for a brother like me,
do you?”

“Oh, come on, Sean. Don’t take anything out of this
conversation that’s not there. I know you’re a decent man.”

Sean took deep breaths of summer. He sat
there quiet for a few seconds, probably steaming inside. Then he
said, “You don’t like me because I have money?”

“I didn’t say that.”

“First, you said something about my suit and
then my house. What’s next?”

“I was just noticing how you like expensive
things…just making an observation.”

“Nah, it wasn’t just an observation. It
seems like you hatin’ on me or something. I mean, what’s the harm
in wanting to provide the best for my family. I never got to have a
life like this growing up. It was hard for us.” Sean looked over at
Roman, then looked at me again. “I want Roman to have all the
things I never had.”

“Nothing’s wrong with that.” I wasn’t going
to add any more wood to that fire, so I just put an end to it. “So
are you going back to work?”

“Nah, I think I’ll just spend the rest of
the day with my son and his mother.”

I frowned as I thought to myself,
will
this ever end?

“Oh, okay,” I said lightly.

“It’s such a nice day. Why spend it at work?” Sean
said proudly.

I glanced over at Roman on the swing, while Sean
continued talking. “I’ve been meaning to ask you about that dream
you had. What was it about?”

I didn’t want to discuss the dream with
Sean, but I was so happy he changed the subject, so I just went
with it. “It was about my ex. It’s always about him.”

“You’re hanging on to him.”

“Are you asking me or telling me?”

“I was sort of asking.”

“Well, I guess you can say that. I am
hanging on to him.”

“Even after all those years, you can’t let
him go?”

“Apparently not.”

“You’re in love with this guy?”

Sean asked the question as if he could not
believe I was still in love with Cornelius after so long. I
couldn’t believe it either.

“You do realize we had this conversation
before, right?”

“Uh huh, I remember. Just checking to see if
you changed your mind about being in love with a guy that you
haven’t seen in years.”

“I don’t think I’m
in
love with him,
but I do love him.”

Sean stopped the interrogation to take a sip
of tea, and I’m glad he did. It gave me a chance to rest my voice
for a moment. It felt like I’d just been arrested or something.

“Monica, I have something to tell you,” he said
after a couple refreshing swallows of tea.

“Okayyy…what is it?”

“Do you remember that contract you signed
when you agreed to take this job?”

“Yeah. What about it?”

“There was a clause in there that I didn’t
see. It stated that for the duration of the job, you will be
considered a spouse and be granted rights and privileges
henceforth.”

“And what does that mean?” I took a drink
while waiting for his answer.

“That means we are legally married.”

I coughed hard. “What?” I said, grinning a
little. I was sure this was a joke, but when I looked at Sean, he
was dead serious. “You’re kidding me, right?”

“Nope. I got a copy of the marriage license
in my bedroom.”

I laughed out of disbelief. “I know you’re
playing a joke on me or something.”

“Nah, I’m serious. I talked to my lawyer and he said
that until your departure from the job, you are considered my
wife.”

“But how could that be?”

“Well, it’s obviously a mistake.”

“But we can fix it, right?”

Sean smiled while staring me square in the
eyes. “You’re really upset about this, huh?”

“Not so much upset, but this is not normal.
I mean, you’re telling me that I’m your wife? How am I supposed to
react?”

“I don’t know, but I didn’t think it would
be like this.”

“Well, since this was just a mistake, fix
it. Change the contract and I’ll resign it.”

“Why? It’s already July. You’ll be gone in
September. Once you leave, the contract is null.”

I glanced over at Roman again to make sure
he was okay. Then I asked Sean, “How long have you known this?”

“Since about the third week you were living
with me.”

“And you didn’t bother to tell me? You just
decided you would keep this a secret from me?”

“Well, we weren’t talking much back then if
you recall. When was I going to tell you? In the middle of a
shouting match?”

“No. You could’ve picked a more appropriate
time.”

“Well, I’m telling you now, Monica.”

“Why? Why are you telling me now? I could’ve walked
out the door not knowing any of this.”

“I just wanted to let you know, ah’ight?
Thought it would be the right thing to do, but now, you’re making
me wish I would’ve kept my mouth shut.”

And on that note, I thought it was time for
me to keep my mouth shut. To be as fine as he was, he sure didn’t
have the people skills to go along with the face. I couldn’t hold a
decent discussion with Sean without it nearing an argument.

“I’m ready to go.” I started gathering our
things.

“Ah’ight. Let’s go then.”

We left the park and went home. Roman fell
asleep in the car. Sean carried him to his room, laying him on the
bed so as not to wake him. Then he joined me in the family
room.

“So, Sean, did you tell anyone about this
marriage thing?”

“I told my brothers…and my sister. They probably
told my mother.” Sean propped his feet up on the table. “You’re
bothered by this, aren’t you? You don’t want to be my wifey?” he
asked, while laughing like something was funny.

Sean was treating this thing like a joke. It
wasn’t a joke to me. I always thought of marriage as something
blissful, shared between two people who loved each other
unconditionally. It was something beautiful, meant to last forever.
Not some contract marriage.

“It’s just that I’ve never been married
before, and now, when I do meet my future husband, the man of my
dreams, I’ll have to tell him about this bogus marriage.”

“Look, I’ll just redo the contract. Ah’ight?
Will that make you happy?”

I was starting to think he wanted this. He
was upset and it was written all over his face.

“Sean, don’t worry about it. There’s no need
to get upset. Just…” Beyond irritation, I threw my hands up in the
air. “Just do whatever you want.”

I left the room and went to sit outside by
the pool, with my feet dangling in the water. I knew Sean was going
to follow me. I just couldn’t seem to shake him.

Minutes later, I saw him walking up to me.
“Monica, I wasn’t trying to start an argument, okay? I was just
joking with you. That being said, you make it seem like if we
were
acknowledging the contract and the marriage, then you’d
be disgusted.”

“Why on earth would I be disgusted with a
man like you, Sean? Are you kidding me? If anything, I will be
hated by every woman walking the planet because they’d all wish
they had you.”

Sean smiled. Then he slid off his shirt and
got into the pool, dipping completely underneath the water. When he
came up, he said, “However, I will say that Monica Annviere
Beauvais doesn’t sound half bad.”

We both laughed. Then I started thinking about how
Sean knew what my middle name was. I never told him that. And on
those very rare occasions that I did have to tell someone my whole
name, I always said Monica Ann Smith. Most people didn’t even know
how to pronounce my middle name, but Sean said it
perfectly…Ann-v-air. So, it peaked my curiosity to know how he knew
that.

“Sean, how do you know my middle name?”

“You told me.”

“No, I didn’t.”

“Well, I don’t know. Maybe I saw it printed
somewhere.”

Maybe he did see it printed somewhere, because I was
sure I didn’t tell him.

“Why don’t you loosen up a little?” Sean said, as he
pulled me in the water to join him.

The pool was five feet all the way around. When he
tugged on my arm, I tried to resist but was no match for his
strength. Then he grabbed me around the waist and pushed me slowly
back into the wall of the pool. Splashing water tickled my ears and
hit me from all angles as I inhaled the light chlorine smell fuming
from the surface.

“I don’t think I’ve thanked you for all that you do
for me and Roman.”

“Oh, I’m sure you have.”

“Okay, well, I’m saying it again, Monica.” Sean
stared into my eyes almost seductively, realizing he was making me
uneasy and using that to his advantage. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome, really. I don’t
even know why you’re thanking me. I mean, you
are
paying me. Actually, you’re
overpaying me.” I smiled while Sean kept staring into my eyes like
he didn’t hear a word I said.

“Let your hair down.”

“No. I don’t want chlorine in my hair.”

“You can always wash it out. Just let it down. I
want to see it wet.”

“What? You have a weird fetish for wet hair?”

Sean took off my barrette and let my hair fall free.
“Now come under with me.” He continued standing in front of me,
holding my hands. “On three. One…two…three.”

I took a deep breath and went under with him. I’m
glad I knew how to swim. Otherwise, I would’ve been in trouble. We
swam to the opposite end of the pool. Sean came up before me, and
when I finally broke through the surface of the water, he was
standing there looking at me while I brushed excess water off of my
face. All I could hear was the trickles of the moving water.

Then he said, “Wow.”

“What?” I squeezed water out of my hair.

“You’re just so beautiful.”

I didn’t say a word. I just smiled.

“I’m serious. You are amazing,” he assured me.

“Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.”

“Well, I’m going to go and wash up….have to get this
chlorine off of me since somebody wanted me to go under the water.”
I got out of the pool, dripping water, thanks to yours truly.