Chapter 1 #2
That photo confirmed that I made the right choice with my divorce.
Lise and I addressed the dissolution of our marriage drastically different.
I processed our breakup privately, with grace, and as soundly as I could, but Lise loved broadcasting our post-divorce business to the world like strangers needed to know every detail of her sporadic life.
At least she had the sense to keep Aspen’s name and face out of her shenanigans.
I clicked on the link to Robert’s account.
He was a social media influencer and life coach with over one hundred thousand followers.
Every other photo showed him shirtless. When he wasn’t half naked in a post, he and Lise lay in pools twisted like pretzels or booed up it in dimly lit restaurants with alcohol and decadent food.
Like Lise, Robert was a drama king with an ego the size of Texas.
He gave her the attention she craved in every way.
“They like to eat.” I poked my lips out and held my tongue, determined to say something nice about the mess Malcolm showed me.
I wasn’t going to block blessings by tearing down a woman I worked hard to release emotionally. I also didn’t want to relapse over Lise and her lies.
“That was nicer than what I’d say. If she were my ex, I’d cuss her up one side of social media and down another. Cheating ass heifer.”
“Good thing she’s not your ex then.” I grinned at Malcolm’s transparency.
I wasn’t surprised by Malcolm’s hate for Lise. He was the only person who knew that she stepped out on me with Robert before the ink dried on our divorce papers.
“Lise handled our divorce her way, and I dealt with mine another. Maybe she can finally be happy.”
Malcolm shrugged and gave me a side-eye. “I guess.”
“Everybody has to answer for their actions on their own time.” I spoke the words by faith, believing in my heart that karma, God, and everything that made things right in the universe would have my back, working everything out in a way that wouldn’t leave me crushed.
“I wasn’t the perfect husband all the time,” I added.
If therapy taught me nothing else, it was to own my mistakes and move on.
Malcolm shook his head.
“You sure you ain’t a saint or something?”
I chuckled at his constant exhortation about my character. Since I was a kid, I believed in practicing the Golden Rule. That was why I was so proud that Aspen received the first-grade citizenship award at Farmerton Elementary this semester.
“I’m nobody’s saint. Ask my parents. They’d have lots to say about how ornery I’ve been in the thirty-five years they’ve known me. I put my pants on one leg at a time just like everybody else.”
Like Malcolm, many people in the community held me in high esteem because of my philanthropic efforts. It was often difficult for me to celebrate that, even as people complimented my character. I was a good guy but was nowhere close to being perfect.
“You made the right choice, man. Anyone who acts like you’re a deadbeat dad ain’t worth the time of day.”
“Thanks, man.”
“I’ll pray for her.”
Malcolm’s words touched a tender spot in my soul. As precious memories returned to me, I breathed deeply. It wasn’t easy to take the high road every day. In fact, it was exhausting.
I turned my back to Malcolm and faced the clock on the back wall as my vision blurred, blinking several times until everything was in focus again. I cleared my throat before picking up my work order for the afternoon.
“What I need to focus on is taking care of these projects before the storm hits.” I perused the sheet and tapped it with my pen, noting that my morning was free, but my afternoon was blocked for one client.
“Don’t get stuck in those back woods trying to make a dollar. I know you, man. Take off and go to the Christmas parade. A lot of fine honeys will be looking for somebody to snuggle up with during the storm.” Malcolm raised and lowered his eyes like he was sharing a big secret with me.
He wasn’t lying. Folks swore summer was the season for carnality, but something about winter weather had people wanting to nest. I was always prepared to make a quick exit as many of my female clients walked around their homes half-naked when I repaired their hot water heaters or unclogged a sink.
Nothing in me was prepared for the freshly trimmed bushes that peeked through skimpy dresses or the pointy nipples that lingered dangerously close to my mouth when a woman leaned down to inspect my work beneath a sink.
I wouldn’t be surprised if one day, one of those hot ass woman tried to unzip my pants and sit on my pole like she belonged there.
I hired Malcolm so I wouldn’t have to catch a case. A single brother could only endure so much temptation and not cut off a finger when he worked with power tools.
“I’m heading out to Ruby Starks’ place this afternoon. Her old house needs a lot of work.” I set her work order on my desk and thumbed down the page, noting that this would most likely be a multiday job.
“That woman is beautiful. Jittery and a little too standoffish for my taste, but really pretty with that sweet little smile.” Malcolm smiled widely and sucked his teeth before nodding.
“I can see that.”
I thought about Ruby and the numerous encounters we had over the years.
Although she was Aspen’s first-grade teacher, each time she saw me, she’d pat her thick, dark brown hair before speaking quickly and scurrying away.
I chalked it up to her not wanting to get too familiar with her students’ parents.
Maybe today I could have a real conversation with her and see what she was about outside of school. She had always been kind to my little girl, so I wanted to share with her how much I appreciated her. It took a village to support kids whose parents were divorced.
“Maybe you can figure out why she’s so weird.” Malcolm’s words cut through my thoughts.
“She’s not weird.” I felt the need to defend Ruby since Aspen adored her. “Aspen has nothing but good things to say about Ms. Starks. Maybe she communicates better with kids than people her age.”
“A woman that fine shouldn’t be so closed off. There are plenty of men out there willing to warm her bed. Maybe you can try.” Malcolm winked at me in the mischievous way he always did when he tried to hook me up with some random woman in the city.
He kidded about Ruby’s bed needing to be warmed, but mine did too. I wouldn’t mind the right woman’s thick thighs and wet honey pot satisfying me the right way.
Lise was the last woman I slept with. One thing she couldn’t complain about was how often I serviced her. I sexed Lise’s disrespectful ass senseless behind closed doors. Our worn-out king-sized Serta mattress and broken bed frame were my witnesses.
Instead of humoring Malcolm any more, I folded Ruby’s work order and placed it in the front pocket of my work shirt. I looked forward to having a private conversation with Aspen’s elusive, demure teacher.