New Excerpt from upcoming novel #RCH
“Wow, Lydia,” Sandra said in disbelief. “I expected much
more of a reaction from you than this.” Sandra and Lydia were sitting crossed
legged on the soft beige carpet of her family room enjoying barbecue chicken
pizza, salad, and apple martinis.
Lester had
finally left after another an hour or so of cuddle time but not in time to miss
Lydia’s arrival. The two of them nearly collided at the door.
“Ugh.” Lydia
groaned. “Why are you here?” Lydia asked seething. She and Lester were never quite
fond of one another, but throughout he and Sandra’s marriage Lydia did make a
concerted effort to be cordial of respect for Sandra. Since the separation and
then the divorce proceedings Lydia had taken the kiddy gloves off.
“Because this is my house.” Lester was quick to answer.
“Hmph. Not much longer.”
Oh Lawd, Sandra thought to herself. Right
about now she was wishing that her girls were at home. At least then, Lester
and Lydia would have exerted some effort to behave civilly towards one another.
She had followed Lester to the door to kiss him goodbye when he opened the door
to find Lydia standing on the other side. She wanted so badly to open her mouth and put
a stop to the exchange. Instead she’d just stood there. The corners of Lester’s
mouth turned from an angry frown into a cunning grin.
“Okay. Obviously you
and Sandra need to talk.” He turned back Sandra and kissed her on the lips
before brushing past Lydia. Was that for
my benefit or hers? Sandra wondered.
Sandra hadn’t
fully turned away from closing the door before Lydia lit into her.
“And what the
hell did he mean by that?” But Lydia was
a smart woman. She didn’t need it spelled out but she wanted to hear Sandra say
the words.
Sandra did. “Lester
and I getting back together.”
Lydia took no
time at all to absorb the news. As though it was no surprise at all. No
objections. No questioning Sandra’s decision. Lydia only nodded her head and
then said, “Let’s order some pizza.”
Either Lydia had
really expected this outcome or she had enough to contend with in her own
marriage. Lydia and Roy—Sandra’s cousin, had been married a little over
eighteen months. It was a miracle that they’d made it down the aisle after
Lydia almost ruined their relationship backpedaling with an old frame. And now
that they had, Roy was putting the pressure on Lydia to have a baby while she
wanted to focus on getting her career back on track.
“Can’t I enjoy
being a wife for a little while before I
become of mother?” Lydia’s complaints fell upon deaf ears. Lydia was the sole
member of her team. Everybody else was in favor of a baby. Team Roy!
“Well it’s not a
whole lot for me to say.” Lydia went on to say. “You know that I understand
more than anybody about the need to make decisions without the input or advice
of your friends. I just hope you know what you’re getting yourself into. Life is
going to be a little different with Felicia and L.J. in the picture. Are you
prepared for that? ” Lydia asked.
This process of
working things out with Lester hadn’t involved a lot of conversation about
Felicia. L.J., yes, but not Felicia. Lester definitely had his shortcomings as
a husband but he excelled as a father. And he had no intentions of being any
less of a father to L.J.
Sandra couldn’t
do anything but respect that. So she and Lester made an agreement. Sandra
wouldn’t interfere with his relationship with his son as long as he was honest
with her about anything that happened between him and Felicia while they were
separated. She didn’t want any more surprises.
Lester
contemplated for a few minutes before he fessed up. “Yes, Sandra. I slept with
her a couple of times after you kicked me out. But I knew nothing good would
come of that so I cut it off and made it clear to Felicia that our only
relationship would be as parents to L.J.”
Honesty was best.
If Lester had said anything but that Sandra would have called him a liar to his
face! Sandra knew that Felicia would have gladly slid into the role of Mrs. Lester Anderson if Sandra had given
her the opportunity. What woman wouldn’t? To be married to an attractive,
wealthy and successful man like
Lester Anderson was what most women wished for. They could deny it all they
wanted but Sandra knew most women would have did just as she’d done, turning a
blind eye to Lester’s infidelity. The perks that came along with him were a
small price to pay. She lived in a grand home in an upscale community. Her
children could attend the best private schools. And she had the notoriety of
the Anderson name.
Men have been
cheating on their wives since the beginning of time. And their women have been forgiving
them for just as long. Sandra figured it was far better to deal with a
financially successful cheater than a broke one so she might as well stay put.
Even with her Ivy
League education and corporate law position, Felicia would have done the same. Obviously so, if she tried to seduce Lester.
But it didn’t work. Sandra and her family were intact and
Felicia would have to keep sitting on the sidelines.
“Of course, it’ll
be different having a child around my house who isn’t mine but I’m sure I can handle
a dose of L.J. and Felicia every other week.” Sandra finally said taking a
small bite of pizza into her mouth.
“I’m glad you’ve got that all figured out. I
just wish you hadn’t let me embarrass myself in front of Lester like that.”
Lydia said speaking to her and Lester’s clashing at the front door. “Thanks to
you he got quite a laugh at my expense. Now, that, I have a problem with.” The friends of twenty years laughed at that
and then settled into the throwback movie they were watching on DVD.
Any other time
Sandra wouldn’t have been able to sit through any Ben Stiller movie, let alone
her favorite one, Meet the Parents. Aside
from laughing at the comedic antics of Ben, watching Lydia convulse in
uncontrollable laughter on her favorite parts would send Sandra into the same
spell. But not this time.
Tonight her mind
was wondering in and out about Lester’s claim to being a changed man. That
he really hadn’t grasped the severity of his behavior until he held those
divorce papers in his hand. Realizing that Sandra would actually leave him, break up their family had shown him the
error of his ways. He promised to never cheat on her again.
Was he the
changed man that he claimed to be? Or was he playing the ultimate game of
deceit? Was she a fool to believe him? After all, he’d told her the same thing a
thousand times before? How many times had he begged her forgiveness, promising to
never do it again, while adorning her with her favorite luxuries? She lost
count a long time ago. Had filing for divorce finally garnered her the results she
desired? It sure better had, she thought, because as soon as she spilled the
beans about this reconciliation, she was relinquishing all future complaining rights,
as well she should.
@L.A. Jefferson
