Chapter 1 #2
Much like her, I had been a married woman for the greater part of my life.
Hell, you could say all my life. Quincey and I were high school sweethearts who met in middle school and barely made it past the legal age to say our I dos.
Well, only me. I was nineteen and he was twenty-two when we got married.
Here we were ten years later, still together.
I did my best beauty queen wave and I was out the door, heading to my car so I could return to my life as a married woman.
As soon as I got in my car, I pulled out my phone to call Quincey who I was sure had called a few times. He was currently out of town at the Capitol.
While my world was moving fast, his was sprinting.
Even with it being a midterm year, I felt like I hadn't seen Quincey in weeks the way our schedules had been out of sync. And for once, I wasn't complaining. Normally, I craved my husband’s company, but lately I had been so stressed with pageant preparations, and now adding Quincey’s stuff, the last thing I wanted to do was to come home and have to entertain or cook more than my girl dinner of random shit I had in the refrigerator.
Election years were rough for us. Him obviously, but I caught the tail end of whatever came home with him.
Being the wife of a congressman wasn't for the weak, and adding Quincey’s need to appear as the picture-perfect couple always seemed to add to the stress of fulfilling my wifely duties.
So whenever I got a break to breathe and be, I welcomed it with wide arms and held onto it tight as fuck.
“Hey Josie, how was practice? Y’all were running late today. I called a couple times.”
His husky tone came over the car speaker, letting me know the phone barely rang before the call connected to my speakers.
“Hey Q, yeah, we went a little bit over, but it was good. Between Mama and Kimmie I should be ready for locals soon. How are things down there? When should I expect you back?”
“Things are on track for this November. I might have some news though that might change everything, but we can discuss that when I come home in a few days. Tell me about practice. Please tell me you and Mama were at the house with the pole I had installed before I left.”
I rolled my eyes softly as I pulled into traffic. I didn’t want to go back and forth with him about it, so I ignored him and changed the subject back to him.
“Wait, what do you mean change everything? Like what, Q? What should I mentally prepare for? And please keep in mind that I’m stressed enough.”
“Josie, c’mon now. Don’t I always make sure you’re good each election year?
And I love how you sped past my concern of your whereabouts, which lets me know you were at the damn club.
I told you I didn’t want you there, not right now.
Fuck, Josie. Why can’t you and Mama just utilize the gotdamn stripper pole in the back house?
Ain’t that why I had it installed?” When Quincey was expressing himself—more like stressing about my career—I swore the real him always came out more.
I stopped at a red light and closed my eyes briefly while he continued, as I pictured his nostrils flaring as his tone grew more angry.
When I heard the honk of a horn, I opened my eyes and took over his ranting and raving.
“Q, I don’t think they would say too much of anything considering the club isn’t open when I’m coming or going.
And we talked about this. My coach wanted me to work with a professional pole for the training sessions so I can handle the two different elements before we move to a home built one.
” I dragged out the words, trying to show my annoyance at this conversation.
“And when will that be because I told you—"
I cut him off. I was too tired to go back and forth about when we would use the fucking stripper pole in the back house.
“Soon. I almost got the routine down. Anyways, I just got to the house. Let me take a shower and settle in and I’ll call you once I’m done.” That was a lie. I was still in traffic but didn’t want to finish this conversation.
“Okay. Be safe and I love you.”
“I love you too.” I hit the button to end the call and rode in silence the rest of the way home.
I made it across town to my home in Chandler Heights, putting in my code as I smiled at security as the gate opened for me.
I pulled into the driveway and looked at the home we’d built over the years and still couldn’t believe this was my life.
We had more rooms than we could fill with bodies. So of course, we made them full size his and hers closets.
I pulled into the garage just as my phone began to ring again. I groaned, thinking it was Quincey again, but was happy to see it was Mickey, one of my best friends.
“Hey, baby mama,” I sing-songed my greeting. I heard her huffing as she talked to the newest addition to our mini friend family, Baby Berkley, or Minnie as we called her, who we had all spoiled beyond care at this point.
“Whew, shit, sorry, Johnni. I thought I had a few minutes without Minnie demanding to be in my arms, but hold on, I’ma put you on speaker so I can put her in her wrap.
” I giggled while I listened to Mickey talking to baby girl about needing to be a big girl and lay in her crib while I made my way inside.
“She’s not a big girl, Mickey. You can hold her. You’re not doing anything more important than holding her like the princess she is,” I said as I tossed my bags down and began to step out of my shoes before I took another step.
“Here you go sounding like everyone else. I do have stuff to do. How am I supposed to be working on expanding Herbal Remedies if this pretty little baby never lets me be great.”
I chuckled as I made my way through the kitchen, stopping to wash my hands, then grabbing a bottle of water from the fridge.
I loved that my friend was expanding into the herbal medicine market. So far me and our other best friend, Hollis, had been the test dummies for the skin and haircare lines she was working on. My hair was loving the oil she had infused with peppermint and other hair growing ingredients.
“Oh yeah, speaking of, I meant to tell you that the Remy Oil has been doing my hair so good. I’m taking my sew-in down in a couple weeks so we can do my growth test then.”
“Oh good because Hollis ass done fucked up talking about she needed her ends trimmed and let Callie take off all the inches. I told her ass I’m cutting her off.” That had me choking on the water I had just drank. I coughed until I could fully laugh.
“And now you’re laughing. Okay, so cut both of you heffas off, got it.”
“No, I’m sorry. It’s not funny, but c’mon, Mickey, you and I both know that sounds like classic Hollis. I promise before I get my ends clipped I will have Callie take a picture.”
“Thank you because—" A beep rang in my ear, causing Mickey’s words to be cut off. This time I knew it was Quincey calling back. It had been at least thirty minutes and I knew he wasn’t done with the conversation we were previously having about this strip club shit.
“Mickey, this is Q. Let me call you back. He’s out of town,” I said quickly.
“Oh, hold on, before I forget the reason for my call. Please don’t overbook us this coming week at your house for wedding talk. Love you, bye.”
I smiled at the mention of her upcoming wedding.
“Love you too. And I promise it’s only you on that day.” We hung up just in time for me to catch Quincey before he hung up.
“Q, I said I would call you back once I got settled,” I stressed as soon as I answered.
“I know, and honestly, I didn’t think you would pick up.
I was prepared to send both a text and voicemail expressing my apologies.
” He threw out a light laugh before he continued as I was now heading upstairs to my bathroom.
“Look, I’m too far and hate when we fight.
I know you’re still heavy in practice mode this week, and I don’t mean to add to any stress.
I went ahead and booked you down in the Keys for the weekend to hopefully help relieve some of the stress and tension I’m adding to your plate.
I do love you, Josie, and swear I only want to keep you safe. ”
It took one word to peak my eyebrows.
Keys.
I playfully rolled my eyes as I turned on the shower.
“Stress relief, huh? Are you trying to tell me something else, Q?”
“Hell no. I know better than that shit, Josie. Just keeping my word and taking care of my wife. But, look, I have to get back in here. I love you, and I’ll be back soon.”
“Thank you, and I love you too.”
The three beeps hit my ear, letting me know he was indeed off the line.
I smiled as I put my phone on the sink. Even without his words, I knew what my husband was telling me and I wasn’t even mad.
Now, with a hum to go along with the pep in my step, I proceeded to hop into the shower before taking a long hot bath.
It was Wednesday and my countdown to be on the island was now my motivation to make it through my next couple of days until I was officially in paradise.
“Knock, knock! Baby mama, where are you?” I yelled as I walked into her house carrying two bags of food in my hands. This was a surprise visit on my part, but I wanted to see Minnie. It had been a stressful week and her chubby cheeks always put a smile on my face.
“Hey, we’re in the kitchen!” she said as she poked her head from around the corner.
I finished walking the few steps to see Mickey at the sink filling water jugs, letting me know she was about to water the plants. New visitors would think upon entry that they’d stepped into a nursery and not a home. They had plants and flowers everywhere, including the backyard.
“Ooh and you brought food. I feel special and loved. What’s going on?”
I set the bags down while putting on a smile.