Chapter 3
Chapter
Leaving the office for the day, Bernadine drove to the Dog to have dinner with Mal.
After their meal, he’d be playing bid whist with his buddies, so she’d be spending the evening at her place without him.
Their plan to live separately and together had gone well so far.
They spent some days and nights together, and some alone.
They met for lunch or dinner daily, many times both, and not a day went by that they didn’t greet each other by phone to begin the day or end the day without a call before bed.
Granted, there were people who thought the arrangement made no sense, seeing as how they were recently married, but the only opinions that mattered were hers and Mal’s. Everyone else could kick rocks.
The jukebox was playing “Ain’t Nothing Like the Real Thing” by Marvin and Tammi when she entered.
To her, the song could’ve been about the relationship she and Mal shared because what they had was real.
Granted, their journey to love hadn’t always run smoothly, but they’d overcome the challenges, and she couldn’t ask for a better life partner.
She mentally sang along with the lyrics as she waited in line for her turn to be seated.
The place was crowded, as always. She and a few of the women in town were investing in a new, fancier restaurant they’d named the Three Spinsters.
How it might affect the constant crush at the Dog during the dinner hour was yet to be seen, but she had a feeling the locals would continue to flock to the Dog even if the town built three more eateries, because the place felt like home.
Her turn came, and she was escorted to the booth she and Mal called theirs.
He wasn’t there yet, so she assumed he was either in the kitchen helping Rocky and the crew or upstairs in his apartment, and would arrive soon.
Sure enough, he entered the dining room through the kitchen doors, and as their eyes met, his smile evoked a soft rush through her blood that warmed her from head to toes.
“Hey, doll,” he said, when he reached the booth, and greeted her with a kiss on her cheek before taking his seat across from hers.
“How’d your day go?”
“Crystal is moving to Denver.”
He paused and studied her.
She didn’t pretend to put a happy face on the news. She knew she could be her true self with Mal and he could be the same with her. “I’m going to miss her big-time.”
“We all will. Why Denver, though?”
She explained.
“Ah! She’s trying to get away from Henry Adams’s fast-paced life?”
“Exactly.”
He had a gift for making her smile.
She continued, “Yes, everything moves so quickly here, she’s having a hard time keeping up.”
“Denver isn’t that far away,” he pointed out.
“I know. She said the same thing. I was okay with her wanting to go away to school on the east coast or wherever else she planned to go, but her moving to Denver hits different. Feels like an apron strings–cutting kind of moment. I’m not sure I’m ready for her to move on with her life on a permanent basis. Not that what I want matters.”
He reached out and placed his warm hands gently over hers. “It’ll be okay.”
She sighed. “I know. She’s come such a long way. I’ll never forget how buzzed she was about decorating her bedroom, and finding out she’d been sleeping on the floor.”
“Before or after she decorated?”
“After. She said the room was so pretty she didn’t want to mess it up.” Their first few years had been memorable on so many levels.
The waiter brought them water and took their orders.
Bernadine looked around the diner and saw Gen and her husband TC sharing a booth with Marie Jefferson.
Gary and Nori were seated in the back with Leah and Tiffany.
Roni was home after a weekend gig in LA, and she and Reg were enjoying each other’s company in a booth by the windows.
Seeing the Garlands made her wonder if Zoey had left Devon alive or dead.
Mal asked, “Why the smile?”
“Thinking about Devon. Lily said he wants to change the name of Zoey’s band to Devon the Anointed and the Exodusters.”
Mal laughed so loud, people seated nearby turned and stared their way. When he recovered, he took a sip of water. “That boy is a mess.”
“True. I didn’t see a mushroom cloud over the school, so I guess Zoey let him keep living after he told her—if he told her. No way is she going to change the name to that.”
“Not in a thousand years.” He shook his head. “Devon. Devon. What are we going to do with you?”
She had the same question, as did everyone else in town who loved their resident James Brown impersonator. “What did you do today?”
“Spent most of it helping Clay and Bing set up a game room in what used to be Riley’s bedroom. They have a new 55-inch flat screen, new sofa and chairs, a good-size table for us to play bid on and stack snacks on while we watch the games. As the kids say, the room is sick.”
She chuckled. “Sick?”
“S. I. C. K. The sickest.”
“I’m scared of y’all. Has anyone heard from Riley?”
“No, and we don’t say his name, to keep him from being conjured up.”
Their food arrived. Baked chicken and steamed veggies for her. Fish tacos filled with air-fried cod and tasty coleslaw for him.
She offered up a softly spoken thanks for the meal, and their amens followed.
“Bon appétit,” he said, toasting her with his raised water glass.
As they began eating, she brought up Lily’s suggestion about honoring Tamar.
“Sweet idea and a well-deserved one,” he replied. “But how are you going to keep her from finding out?”
“The question of the day.”
“And if she finds out, will she kneecap everybody involved? No good deed goes unpunished, you know.”
“I do.” She shrugged in response to the question. “We’ll all take a pledge to keep it on the down-low. Definitely can’t tell the kids, though.”
“Nope. Amari in particular. He’ll sell us all down the river for his beloved Tamar.”
Bernadine agreed. Amari “Flash” Steele July couldn’t be in on the secret. No matter what.
“Not sure when you want the party to be, but you might want to have the first planning meeting the weekend she takes Devon on his Spirit Quest,” Mal suggested. “They should be going sometime soon.”
“Great idea! I love you so much.” It was a perfect plan.
He grinned. “Always a joy to hear you say that.”
“Simply stating the truth, sir.”
“Spent the day missing you too.”
“Aww.” She was moved by the affection in his eyes and tone.
They’d spent the weekend at his place, where they’d watched movies and old cartoons, took a late-night drive, had food delivered, listened to jazz, and played Scrabble—which he won, while talking more trash than the good Lord allowed.
As usual. Going home to her own space Sunday night and being alone with herself and the quiet reinforced the rightness of their decision to choose an unconventional married life.
It allowed them the freedom to continue embracing the person life had led each to become, while the added bonus of love served as icing on the wedding cake.
“How about we stay at my house this weekend?”
“I’d like that. And if I start missing you before then?”
The mischief sparkling in his eyes made her blush. “You know what to do.”
“I do.” Sometimes they acted like love-struck teenagers and trashed the schedule they’d planned. The spontaneity kept the relationship fresh and exciting.
After dinner, he walked with her out to her truck. “Are you all breaking in the new game room tonight?”
“Yes. Hoping to whip some butt too. Bing and Trent are on a winning streak that needs to stop. Hate them both.”
“Aw. Poor baby. Keep hope alive.”
His smile lifted his mustached lips. “I’ll text you a good night before I turn in. If it’s not too late.”
“Okay. Have fun, outlaw man.”
“Will do, pretty lady. Give me a kiss.”
She complied, and as it deepened, she heard Roni’s voice call, “Get a room, you two! This is a public parking lot!” Laughing, Bernadine and Mal parted.
Mal called back, “Stay out of grown folks’ business, young’uns!”
Grinning, Roni and Reg entered their vehicle and tooted their horn as they drove away.
Nothing like living in a small town. Bernadine climbed into Baby. “Have fun in the game room. Love you.” And she did with all her heart.
“Love you too.”
She backed out of her parking spot, gave him a wave, and headed home.
Later, lying in bed, she closed the book she’d been reading. Time for sleep. Big meeting tomorrow. She reached out to turn off the lamp on her nightstand, when her phone chimed. The name on the display made her smile. Game room awesome. Butt kicking not so much. Sweet dreams Mrs. July.
She typed her reply. Poor baby. You’ll get ’em next time. Sweet dreams Mr. July.
He sent back a thumbs-up emoji.
Placing the phone on the nightstand, she turned off the light, got comfortable, and closed her eyes.