Uncategorized

Beauty of Man and Woman ““ Episode 6

Written by Mercedes Keyes
Interracial drama series
[Overall Drama Rated – R]
Episode Six ““ Rated PG

To read further ““ http://amberswann.com/

Deidre Wherrington

Chapter 16

After parking down from the Bistro, Shawn grabbed his briefcase, slamming the car door and made his way to the hostess. “I’m here to meet with the Kaplan party.” She smiled up at him, grabbed a menu and lead him to the table, politely responding, “Right this way, Sir.”

As he approached, Gerard glanced up and smiled, waving him forward. Just then, a familiar head turned to him. Before the face and features became visible, he imagined the woman to be Sylvia. There was a definite resemblance, but then the full of her face became visible as the hostess laid down his menu before an empty seat. Pulling it out, he sat explaining himself. “Please excuse me for my tardiness. I have a nine year old daughter to get off to school.”

Mercy James smiled. “No problem. We just arrived as well. It’s nice to finally meet you,” she opened.

Yes, there is a slight resemblance, he thought of Mercy James. Bringing Sylvia’s face to mind, there was one slight difference; Sylvia was prettier. Darker. Her skin a flawless, rich brown. Delicious looking. Mercy James had an olive complexion. Dark eyes like Sylvia, but again, Sylvia’s were larger. Mercy’s lips were full. His Sylvia’s, fuller and plump”¦very kissable. A twinkle lit in Mercy’s eyes as she noticed his inspection.

“Something on my face you’re struggling to make me aware of?”

Shawn sat back, blushed and grinned. “Sorry, you just remind me of someone, that’s all, and I guess I was noting the differences,” he explained with a pleasant smile. Gerard Kaplan, his agent, cleared his throat. “Yes, well, how about we get down to business?” All agreed as Mercy James explained what it was she was looking for. He made rough outlines of a layout that she was describing. Half an hour into the meeting a man approached, looking to be in his mid to late 40’s. Shawn was surprised to find out that he was her husband, Lowell James, and was late for the meeting because of another meeting connected to their growing business, a newly established publishing house. Shawn was also surprised to see that he was white. He watched the look on Mercy James’ face when her husband appeared; it was like someone turned a light on. Her smile was bright and her eyes sparkled just at the sight of him. Watching them, he noted that for a few moments of them greeting one another, they lost all interest in those present.

Lowell smiled, placing a hand behind his wife’s chair, bending to kiss her lips, which were raised eagerly to reciprocate. That bit of pleasure over, he reached for a chair at another table to place next to his wife’s. Shawn also noticed that it took Mercy James a few moments to draw her eyes away from her husband and back to the meeting at hand. Once she did, it was all business again. He also tried to ignore Lowell’s hand at her neck where he caressed her gently. They were in love. Very much so. There was something about seeing them together that made him think of Sylvia and himself. Was what he saw before him now, possible for them as well? They were all about the same age.

The meeting went much as he had expected it to go, with an extra consideration. Lowell James offered him a contract to look over, it entailed him being their main illustrator of all the manuscripts they accepted. He couldn’t believe it, and of course shook their hands and agreed to give it a close look over. His schedule would be full for the next two weeks. Between setting up the layout for this cover, spending time with his daughter, and continuing his pursuit of Sylvia from a distance, his plate would be pretty full. He thought of Mercy James, another black author. She reminded him of Sylvia in many ways, beside their similar style of hair and dress. They were both forthright, bold and decisive. Their main difference being, Mercy had succeeded in making the bestseller’s list, with many of her books sought after for screenplays.

Driving to pick up his daughter, he thought also of Lowell James. A man strongly built, blond with a receding hairline. He had a Jack Nicholson look about him, while the better looking of the two and very distinguished. By the look of things, very much in love with his wife. For most of the time he was there, he didn’t seem to want to take his eyes off of her; Eeen so, he was very much aware of what was happening around him. When it was time to make a decision, Mercy looked to him for direction. Though his gaze of admiration had been on her for the most part, he knew exactly what was going on, with their ideas and vision the same. They were in sync, with an obvious unity no one could deny. Again, he thought about Sylvia and himself. Would they, could they, be like the James’?

His next thought was should he take advantage of the contact for Sylvia? He wasn’t sure about her writing style or how good she was, but he would keep this in mind. Who knew, maybe this was the start of something more to come. Something good. Monday morning he would meet with the group selected for the photo shoot and cover layout. The trilogy they wrote was historical, grand and sweeping. They both expected the cover of all three books to reach out and grab the potential reader upon opening the cover. Not batting an eye at his quote, they expected the best possible illustration, and he would be giving them just that. After all, he’d already decided to sign on with them as their publishing house illustrator, the money would be constant. He had some time still before picking Angela up so he’d stopped at the store, selecting various odds and ends to fill his cupboards and refrigerator while he was there with his daughter. They would get home, put everything away, and he’d grill up a couple of burgers and toss some fries in the oven to bake. After fixing the burgers, adding the fries to the plate, they sat across from each other at the table lost in thought before Angela asked,

“Daddy, can I come and live with you?” That question sat Shawn back.

“What brought that on?” he asked.

She stirred a fry into her ketchup, then brought it to her mouth and bit off the dipped tip. “I miss you, that’s all,” she answered, not yet looking at him. “Wouldn’t doing so make you miss your mother?” he asked, doing the same with a fry. Sighing softly, she shrugged. “I don’t know”¦maybe.” She finished off the fry then looked up at him. “Do you ever miss me?”

Shawn softened with compassion. “Always. I always miss you.”

“Then why’d you leave me? Why didn’t you stay close by?”

Shawn felt stuck by that question, because they’d kind of gone into that a bit the night before, only to find that discussion obviously wasn’t enough. “Look, pum’kin. California and me”¦well, I’m just not made of the stuff required to live happily in a place like this. I wanted your mom to see that and come to Wisconsin with me. But it just never happened.”

“You shouldn’t have cheated. Maybe she would have, if not for that,” she stated boldly. Not judgmentally, but honestly. Shawn nodded in agreement. “You’re right. I shouldn’t have. I was wrong and maybe she would have. Who knows? But that’s neither here nor there, I will never know.” Angela looked back at her plate, then picked up her burger and bit out of it. Shawn did the same, waiting for the rest to come out. As she chewed, he could see her wheels turning for the next hit. Finally, after sipping her soda, she asked,

“Any chance you love her at least a little, still?”

Chewing his own burger, Shawn swallowed and answered, “I will always love her. She gave me you. But there’s no chance of us getting back together,” he informed her honestly.

“Not even if she wanted to give it another chance?” she beseeched gently.

“There’s no chance of that, pum’kin. Your mother would never consider getting back with me again.” As soon as he saw the look on her face, he knew he’d answered wrong. “But what if she did want to? Just”¦what if?”

Shawn sighed. “It’s too late, pum’kin“¦it’s too late. I’ve gone on with my life. What your mother and I had, our marriage, is a part of a closed chapter. Never to be repeated.”

“If she is willing”¦I don’t see why you won’t at least give it a try! You said you would always love her! Then why not try and see if you could make it work this time?”

“Darlin‘, you’re too young to understand this, but it’s too little, too late. It cannot be rekindled. All that I want from that marriage, is you. You’re all that matters to me now.”

“Well, what about what I want? I’m tired of having to wait to see you! And if I come with you, then I can’t have mom! It’s not fair! What about me? What it’s doing to me?” she blasted him tearfully, then charged up from her chair and ran out of the room.

Shawn dropped his partially eaten burger to the plate. Sighing deeply, he wiped his hand over his face and then leaned his cheek on his balled fist, his elbow braced on the armrest of his chair. He turned his head to look at the clock on the wall; 6:30″¦what was he to do with the next few hours? Cleaning off the table, he grabbed his briefcase and went into his office, having relocated his laptop in there where he had more space, next to his drafting table. The sooner he got started on the layout, the better.

* * *

Total, complete, absolute, frustration! Sylvia felt it surging through every cell of her body and it was all his fault! She couldn’t get anything done on her small website. She couldn’t focus on the small editing that was still left to do on her finished novel. And though she sent off an intro to an agent, she didn’t feel confident about the contents. All because of him! These thoughts coursing through her mind as she labored at painting her bathroom. Something she had planned to do for the longest but because of her writing, she didn’t want to break the flow to redecorate. Well, now thanks to Shawn””Everett Styles””McPherson, her flow was oopso! Finished! Flat! Washed up, for this particular moment in time, anyway.

Which led her to where she was, leaning from the top of the ladder, trying to reach an awkward spot. Her hair tied up in a bandana, her ratty scrubs on, with dabs and streaks of paint standing out on her brown skin. Her stereo blasting in the background from the living room. Jammin‘ to fast oldies”¦Dirty Cash by Adventures of Stevie V playing as she bobbed her head from side to side. Ever since she spent that time in Shawn’s house unpacking and arranging his place, it opened up energies to do her own. Especially now with her inability to think in her writer’s mind. So much energy, and no outlet other than redecorating and painting. This was after all, the safe route. Because the alternative was out of the question. Meaning, thoughts of him. His eyes gazing into hers with so much hunger and desire; her heartbeat increased with just the recall. The strength of him holding her against the door as he ravaged her mouth. Sylvia pulled herself back to safety on the ladder and took a seat there as her mind refused to let go of the image of what his mouth was doing to hers. She felt an undeniable throbbing, an unmistakable swelling.

“Oh, god”¦help me through this”¦please.” I want him. I want him bad. Only in her mind would she admit it. Never to him. Not now”¦it was too soon. But her body”¦ah, well, what a treacherous thing it was. No matter what the mind warned and directed, the heart, enclosed and protected by the body”¦was powerful, and could not be denied. It didn’t play by the rules of the game. It was a greedy, selfish, treacherous thing that was responsible for ruining many lives. Not realizing that it itself, lead many to cause its breaking. Oh great, not that, she moaned in thought as Moments in Love by Art of Noise began, sending her mind into her dimly-lit bedroom. Candles burning, giving off the sent of musk and sandalwood. Feet intertwined from beneath creamy, satin sheets. Those of hers, brown and flexing with those of his fair, larger feet. Opening up, a closer scene with their legs moving and showing. Hers spread, with him nestled close and deep there. His back arching, her head thrown back”¦

“Oh my god! Oh my god! Make it stop”¦please make it stop.” She felt tears come to her eyes as her body shivered from responding to the visual image. Her heart pumping blood to all the regions where the need was great. “Paint, girlfriend! Paint”¦stop”¦turn that one off!” she directed herself, climbing down from the ladder to do just that. Wrong music to be playing when one was longing as she was. Missing him. His voice that poured over her like sweet, intoxicating, warm honey. Lips warm, yet hard and unrelenting”¦aaaahhh! She flopped down on her sofa after skipping her CD to the next song, holding her head in her palms as she sat, trying to get a grip of her rioting emotions and thoughts.

“I””am””in””so much trouble,” she said aloud. Then a tear streamed out the corner of her eye. “God almighty, this man already has a grip on my heart. And I can’t break it”¦and my heart”¦he’s going to, I just know it. I just know it.” She sat back as DMX’s mix of In the Air Tonight began. She pulled her knees up and around on the sofa to her chest, staring straight ahead at nothing in particular, no longer fighting her thoughts of him. The one now playing of him on his Harley”¦such a powerful image. He handled that bike like a master. The way he rode it with smooth ease, is much the way she knew he would ride her. Closing her eyes, she saw what she knew would one day come to be. Her stretched out on her back, and him riding her with such exquisite care”¦with such determination to show her what a man like him could make her feel.

Again she tried to shake off the image, but the strength of it was having the needed effect to make her want him, just as he had shown himself to want her. Charging up from the sofa, she went back into the bathroom to pick up where she left off, wondering what was to happen when he returned. She didn’t want to be so weak as to give in to him”¦but she was now afraid. Her desires for him was gaining more strength than her determination to be free of sexual entanglements. Entanglements where she would be the one regretting the act, giving him another notch to his bedpost.

“God, how am I to fight this? How? The key is to put all of this to a halt, right now”¦while I still can. Or can I? Is it already too late?” Again she painted, shaking her head. Thinking about his presence in her home. The way it felt to have him around. The natural stirring of excitement with just his nearness. How in the world did she think she could go on for the rest of her life without a man? And now, of all men to come into her life, it had to be Shawn Everett McPherson. Maybe she should test herself. Maybe she just wouldn’t be online tonight when he expected her to be there. After all, she hadn’t replied to his email. Therefore, no committment was actually made to say if she would meet him or not. If he signed on and noticed that she was not there”¦maybe he would just get the message. Besides, 11 o’clock at night was late for her.

Question was, could she live with the message that he got? Again a sigh escaped her. And thus was the theme of her day. Thoughts going back and forth between her mind and heart on what to do about this growing preoccupation with Mr. McPherson.

Chapter 17

Making some final adjustments to the layout, he was satisfied for the night. It was coming close to the time to meet Sylvia online. He’d checked before he started working to see if she were online. No show. It was on his mind for most of the day, and now night. He just hoped that she was in an amenable mood. He hadn’t received a reply to his email that he sent her, so he could only wonder at what he would have to deal with once the chat began…if it began. He would sign on again at 9pm and if she wasn’t there, then the heck with it, he would call her. Having the thought cross his mind, he wish he had done so last night. Oh well, if she wasn’t there tonight, that’s what he would do.

“Daddy?”

Shawn looked up from his draft table to the door where his daughter stood.

“Yes, pum’kin?”

“Can you take me home?”

Shawn sighed. “I could, but I don’t want to. I want you here with me. I want to spend this time with you. Please?” He sat watching her as she stood in the doorway, with her head laying against it. Her arms crossed before her. She was chewing on her bottom lip. He could see that she’d been crying. Standing, he pushed his seat away from the table, turning it he leaned back against it, then patted his lap. “Come here.” She rushed right into his waiting arms. He squeezed her close to his chest. One arm wrapped tightly around her, the other with his hand in her hair as he inhaled the young clean scent of her. “I”¦love”¦you,” he squeezed out passionately, tightening the embrace. “And I’m sorry this arrangement is so hard for you. I know it is. I know it is. And now that I’m settled into my new home, I want you to come and spend time with me there. During the summer. Spring breaks. Some holidays,” he informed her in a low timbre. His voice gentle and soothing. He stopped, still holding onto her as she sat with her face buried into his chest. Loving the smell of her father. Feeling safe, protected and secure in his arms.

“Please, pum’kin, don’t ever deny me your presence. I need it. I can’t live without you. I love you too much to live with the thought that you don’t want me anymore, or that you don’t want to be with me. Because I need to have you every chance I get. That’s why you’re here now, and I plan to make it more often than this. Please”¦say that you’ll try for me. To accept things as they are. Because no matter what happens between your mother and I, you will always be my daughter. I will always be proud of you, remembering the day you were born and placed into my hands. Please, don’t deny me time with you. I could never undo you”¦the one right thing in my life that I’ve done. Not ever.”

Angela looked up at her father. She could never deny him anything. She needed him, just as he expressed his need for her. “I love you, daddy.” She squeezed him tightly to her. Shawn sighed. “An’ I love you. Ready for bed yet?”

“Can I stay up and watch TV? There’s no school tomorrow.”

“Sure, pum’kin, sure you can. But we have a busy day tomorrow.” She smiled up at him. “I know. I’ll be fine. Oh, I can’t wait to go scuba diving. It’s going to be so much fun!”

Shawn smiled. “Yes, it is. Okay”¦off to watch TV. I’m going online for a bit. Do some surfing and a little chatting.”

“Oh”¦okay”¦with who?” she asked, leaning back from him, disengaging the hug.

Shawn hesitated, a bit nervous to tell the truth, but didn’t feel it right to lie. “I don’t know if you’re going to like the answer, and I don’t want to lie to you,” he said.

She stood gazing at him a moment, then asked, “Tia was right, with a woman!?”

He nodded. “Yes, with a woman.” She took a moment to digest that, then asked, “Is she why you won’t try to get back with mom?”

Shawn sighed. “Part of it. But even if there was no her, I still wouldn’t,” he returned honestly. She twisted her mouth, chewing on the inside of her cheek. “Oh.” She mouthed, quietly thinking. “Where’d you meet her? Internet dating service or something?”

Shawn threw his head back, barking out in laughter. Shaking his head, he looked down at her. “No, pum’kin. She lives across the road from me. From where I now live. Annnd, I like her. I like her a lot. She’s a nice lady.”

“Is she pretty?”

“Very.”

“Does she like you?”

“Yes, she does, but she’s playing hard to get right now.”

“So, it’s serious then?”

“It could get serious.”

“Would I like her?”

“I think so. She’s different though. Different from what you’d expect,” he warned.

She tilted her head inquisitively. “What? She black or something?” Just kidding around, she grinned up at her father, whose eyes widened in surprise.

“Ummm, yes”¦she is,” he confirmed.

Her eyes got huge then. “Noooo way,” she denied.

He nodded. “Way.”

“She’s black? Like African-American black?”

“Yep”¦African-American black.”

“Wow,” she breathed, stunned. “How’d you do that?”

Shawn chuckled. “Haven’t done it yet, pum’kin, but I’m trying to do it. She’s a tough one, though. So”¦whataya think?” he asked nervously.

She sighed, giving it some thought, then shrugged. “I guess it’s okay. I mean”¦why not? Everybody’s doing it,” she offered.

“Oh, yeah, everybody as in who?”

“Well, lot’s of people, I guess. There’s this girl in school, Jessica Winters, she’s got a big big crush on this black boy. I think he likes her, too.”

“So, then, is that alright with you?”

“Sure, why not?”

“Even for your dad?”

“Well, yeah, long as she’s nice and everything. She’s not like the ones on Jerry Springer, is she?” she asked nervously, making a face.

Again, Shawn threw his head back in laughter, “Oh, pum’kin, heavens no! Give your dad some credit! No way! Nothing like. Sylvia Payne is a lady. A little snooty, maybe, but that’s just with me,” he finished, smiling in thought of her.

Angela grinned, then curiously asked, “So, what’s she look like?”

“Hmmm? Let me think? Well, you remember the movie with Eddie Murphy, Coming to America?”

“Yeah.”

“Remember the Princess he was suppose to marry, who was jumping up and down on one foot because he asked her to, to test her out?”

“Yeah.”

“Kinda like her. Maybe prettier, more or less. It’s hard to say. But she’s a close comparison.”

“Ohhhh, okay. Wow, she was pretty.”

“Well, so is Sylvia. Very pretty. Beautiful in fact. Breathtaking.”

Angela gave a closed smile. “Well, I’m gonna go watch TV,” she informed her father. Shawn caressed the back of her head. “Okay. I’m gonna go online, see if I can catch me one heck of an exotic fish.” He flexed his brows charmingly. Angela stopped in the doorway, turning and sighed saying, “Well, good luck”¦I guess.” Then she was gone.

* * *

10:50pm”¦ten more minutes. Sylvia noticed this pacing in circles from her living room to the kitchen. Now nibbling on her last nail, her thumbnail, after having bitten all the others off, spitting them distractedly to the floor. If she were to admit it to herself, she’d already lost the battle. That being a fact when she went to turn off her computer, deciding to leave it on “just to see if he comes on“ and then walking away, mumbling, “Just to see if he actually invites me to chat.” Her stomach was tumbling in knots as one arm lay across it, with her nibbling her thumbnail to the nub. Now twisting it sideways to attack her cuticle. 10:55pm. “I can do this. Just wait it out. That’s all. If I wait it out, then I can repel any advance he springs on me. I just have to stand strong for fifteen minutes, then he’ll give up and that will be that,” she coached herself. “Ow!” she cried out after biting and pulling on her cuticle to the quick, now it was sore and bleeding. She sucked on her thumb, tasting the salty, coppery taste of her blood. She walked off to the bathroom to put something on it and then a band-aid. “That will take at least five minutes or more. Yeah, I’ll bathe and disinfect it good.” She decided, walking into the bathroom, unable to avoid looking up at her decorative bath clock. 10:57pm. “I can do this. I can do this.” No sooner had she said so, that she heard it all the way in her bathroom; the distinctive knocking of someone signing on to Yahoo.

Immediately she realized that it would be someone on her list. Her heart started hammering. She swallowed deep, not realizing she was holding her breath, listening intently. Upon noticing her behavior, she shook her head and turned on the faucet. The rush of the water pressure from the spout was loud. She lessoned the pressure, needing to hear the distinctive chiming message alert. As soon as the thought registered, the chiming message came through to her.

She threw her body around against the bathroom sink and looked up at the clock. 11:00pm. Her stomach tightened. “Just wait it out, Sylvia”¦just wait it out.” Another chime sounded. Another line written in the message frame. “Come on, Sylvia”¦don’t give in. Just wait it out.”

Then came a loud and clear buzz”¦ding-dong! He was signaling her. Buzzing her from the friends list. She could hear her pulse pump in her eardrums”¦one minute later”¦ding-dong! She swallowed. “Oh, nooooo! Noooo.” But then she did it, she took off running from the bathroom. A flash rushing around the end of her bed”¦sprinting out the door through the dining room, down the hall and barely missing the door frame, to snatch her computer chair back and dropping into it. There it was”¦the Yahoo chatbox”¦and there plain to see”¦mcharley60. She gulped, hands on keyboard, she replied”¦

The chat”¦

mcharley60: You there, Sylvia?
mcharley60: Sylvia? Come on, I know you’re there.
Buzz
Buzz
Quiet_Storm: Oh…hi, that startled me. I was in the bathroom.
mcharley60: Oh, I wasn’t sure if you would be here. I’m sorry I missed you last night.
Quiet_Storm: I know, I got your email.
mcharley60: Oh, I see. Thanks for the reply!
Quiet_Storm: I figured we would chat tonight, that would be soon enough.
mcharley60: So, you did get mad.
Quiet_Storm: For what?
mcharley60: ‘Bout last night.
Quiet_Storm: Ooooh…lol…
Quiet_Storm: Well
Quiet_Storm: I have a confession to make.
mcharley60: Confession?
Quiet_Storm: Yes…ummm, truth is…I wasn’t here either, last night.
mcharley60: What?
Quiet_Storm: At 8:30 or 10:30pm”¦whatever time.
Quiet_Storm: I was out.
mcharley60: You were?
mcharley60: Where?
Quiet_Storm: Doesn’t matter where”¦I just”¦I, umm”¦well, the time got away from me.
mcharley60: You promised!
Quiet_Storm: Well, obviously it doesn’t matter, because you weren’t here, either.
Quiet_Storm: So, no big deal.
mcharley60: No big deal, hm? Well”¦I”¦I guess you got me there.
Quiet_Storm: Don’t worry about it. I understand.
Quiet_Storm: You were with your daughter.
mcharley60: Yes, and time kinda got running away and…well, I’ve explained, haven’t I?
Quiet_Storm: Yes, I know how that is.
Quiet_Storm: So, how’s the weather there?
mcharley60: Weather’s nice”¦but that’s beside the point”¦you still haven’t said where you were!
Quiet_Storm: LOL“¦excuse me? Umm, the fact that I wasn’t here, is explanation enough. So, how’d your meeting go?
mcharley60: To hell with the meeting!

mcharley60: So, you knew that I would be here to chat with you, and you found something else more important to do?

mcharley60: Is that what you’re saying?
Quiet_Storm: LOL“¦hellooo”¦you weren’t here either, remember?
mcharley60: Sylvia Payne…this is not a game for me. So don’t play with me! I’m hundreds of miles away from there, and you obviously decided to use that time to go and have such a good time, that you weren’t concerned with being there for me”¦thanks! Tells me a lot about how you feel about me. Thanks a lot!

Sylvia gasped, surprised by the message he wrote. “Oh, my goodness, he is tripping”¦” She grinned, then giggled out loud.

Quiet_Storm: ROFLBO – oh my goodness, will you calm down. I was at your house”¦okay? Across the road!
mcharley60: My house?
Quiet_Storm: Yes, your house. Unpacking boxes. You did ask me to do that, if you remember?
mcharley60: Oh, I see. But”¦
Quiet_Storm: Annnd, I was tired from going to bed so late and getting up early to take you to the airport. I laid on”¦*sigh* your bed”¦just to take a small nap”¦and when I woke up”¦it was after eleven.

Shawn had a big fat grin on his face as he sat back in his chair to assimilate that bit of information. “Oh, yeah! She wants me”¦she wants me, alright,” he said out loud.

mcharley60: Hmm“¦fell asleep in my bed, you say? Pity, just my luck that I’d be thousands of miles away”¦what luck.
Quiet_Storm: I guarantee you, if you hadn’t been”¦I wouldn’t have been.
mcharley60: Yeah”¦sure *winks*, anything you say, lady.
Quiet_Storm: Excuse me, Shawn, you can think anything you like! I was burning time, and doing you a favor.
mcharley60: Yeah, well”¦maybe so, maybe so. But the fact is, you want me, Sylvia. You want me, just as much as I want you. Maybe even more!
Quiet_Storm: LOL“¦pul-lease! Man, you are much too stuck on yourself.
mcharley60: Ah”¦could be. But I remember”¦
Quiet_Storm: Remember what?
mcharley60: The way you felt in my arms.
Quiet_Storm: That? I forgot that already!
mcharley60: Well, I haven’t. Nor the moans and groans from you when I had you against the door. Your ass cupped in my hand”¦the taste of you.
Quiet_Storm: Excuse me, but I don’t want to discuss that.
mcharler60: I see”¦been trying to forget the taste of my tongue in your mouth all day, hmm? I still have the taste of you in mine”¦sweet”¦sweet, creamy, delicious chocolate”¦

Sylvia was gasping, stunned. Her breathing heightened because she did remember. Had been trying to forget through the night, and the day. How could it be that even so far away, he could still touch her and make her tingle? Gulping and drawing a breath, she replied”¦

Quiet_Storm: If this is all you wish to chat about, then I’m gonna go!
mcharley60: Okay, okay”¦I’m sorry”¦don’t go.
mcharley60: So, did you get a lot done at my house?

Sylvia sighed in relief.

Quiet_Storm: I got all the boxes in that room unpacked. And everything put where I thought you’d want it.
mcharley60: Wow, thanks. I really appreciate it. I owe you. When you pick me up at the airport, how about you let me take you out to dinner?
Quiet_Storm: We’ll see…

Shaking his head, Shawn chuckled out loud.

mcharley60: Hardcore to the end, aren’t you, lady? You’re going to make me work my ass off to get you, aren’t you?
Quiet_Storm: Excuse me, I don’t remember inviting, you to “get me”. Seems to me, working your ass off is a condition you’ve inflicted upon yourself, no prompting from me!

She was starting to enjoy this, a ready grin lingering on her face.

mcharley60: TouchÃ© and true”¦but, I know what I want. And you know what I want. And I aim to get it. Even if it means working my ass off. No holds barred”¦ no holds barred”¦you’ve been warned!

His words sucked the air right out of her, leaving her dizzy. Gulping, shaken and full of desire for him. Not that she would admit it to him.

Quiet_Storm: I think we should, perhaps, change the subject
mcharley60: Yes, I agree, we should let you first digest that. Before I take you to the next level.
Quiet_Storm: Listen here, Shawn Everett McPherson””there is no next level!
mcharley60: Sure there is, and the moment you stop fighting me and the way you really feel, I’ll move you up to it.
Quiet_Storm: I’m not fighting anything!
mcharley60: Liar!
Quiet_Storm: Excuse me, I don’t have to lie!
mcharley60: Of course you do. That’s the only thing that helps you continue this fight against me. Lying to yourself. But you know the truth. And so do I.
Quiet_Storm: Well, obviously, you’re in the mood for ego blowing”¦and since that’s the case, your time would be better spent impressing a woman who is”¦
mcharley60: You are such big talk. But if I were there right now, I’d have you wrapped so tightly in my arms, we’d probably be in bed right now.
Quiet_Storm: That’s it””goodnight!
mcharley60: Wait, wait, wait! Okay, okay, okay! I won’t say another word”¦I promise. I’ll change the subject, okay?

Sylvia killed two birds with one stone. First bird, she waited out the reply to get control of her rioting senses. She was shaking with wanting him, and was glad for the cover of chatting from a distance. Were he present, he would see right through her to her need.

mcharley60: Sylvia? Sylvia, please”¦don’t go!

Second bird, to scare him into check. His hold on her was much too strong. His words, far more powerful than the distance between them. She should have turned her computer off. Not doing so made her lose the battle she was waging against his assault. Her need for him was deep, harsh, soul-shaking and raw. How much longer could she hold out was the scary reality plaguing her mind.

mcharley60: Ah, come on, Sylvia”¦I said I’d change the subject. Don’t go! I’m sorry.

He included that lie for good measure.

Quiet_Storm: So, how did the visit with your daughter go?

He sighed. Okay, lady”¦I see. You’ve got the power”¦for now. So enjoy it. Because when I return, it’s back to me. But for now, I’ll play by your rules”¦for now.

mcharley60: So far, so good. She’s still with me. In the other room watching TV.
Quiet_Storm: Oh, I didn’t know you still had her.
mcharley60: Yeah, she’ll stay with me until the day I leave. She’s…one of the most important women in my life. Although she’s still a baby to me, she’ll be a woman one day.

Sylvia was dying to ask who the other women were. But that would be too much nerve. Especially with how she’d been rejecting most of his advances. Knowing that, she craved with an intense hunger to be placed in that category. Trouble was, is that where he wanted to place her?

Quiet_Storm: Yes, she will be. But she’s lucky to have you as her father.
mcharley60: You think so, hm?
Quiet_Storm: Yes, I do.
mcharley60: Why, thank you!
Quiet_Storm: You’re welcome.
Quiet_Storm: So, how’d your meeting go?
mcharley60: Pretty much as I’d expected. I got to meet Mercy James finally. The famous author who has hired me as the illustrator of her novels and I’ll be signing a contract with them, for their publishing house. along with this current trilogy she’s releasing the first of the year.
Quiet_Storm: Wow, so”¦what’s she like?
mcharley60: She could be your sister.
QuietStorm: Really?
mcharley60: You two are very similar. She’s not as dark as you are. But attractive, she even wears your same perfume.
Quiet_Storm: LOL…and how do you know what kind of perfume that I wear?
mcharley60: I smelled it enough times!
mcharley60: And, I confess, I saw it in your bathroom.
Quiet_Storm: Ooooh, and what do you mean, you smelled it enough times?
mcharley60: I think it’s called, Listerine…

Shocked, Sylvia gasped, then threw her head back and cracked up laughing.

Quiet_Storm: LOL…very funny!
Quiet_Storm: So, you’re in a joking mood tonight, I see.
mcharley60: Got no choice, the mood I was in gets me left in the cold. So, laughter is the next route. I hear, get a woman laughing, you can get her into bed. Problem is, once you get her there, how to stop her?

And laugh Sylvia did.

Quiet_Storm: LOLOL“¦do you ever give up?
mcharley60: With a woman like you as the prize? No way”¦no way.

Quiet_Storm: Well, let’s get back to Mercy James.

mcharley60: I’d rather talk about us.

Quiet_Storm: So, does she seem like a nice person?

mcharley60: I think she is.

Quiet_Storm: Wow, so you’ve met Mercy James!

mcharley60: So I take it you’ve read her novels?

Quiet_Storm: Well, yeah”¦I don’t know many who haven’t.

mcharley60: You sound excited. Is that what it’s going to take to lift you”¦as you lift me?

Quiet_Storm: You sure about that? That I lift you? Seems to me, I always make you mad”¦

Shawn rolled his eyes, shaking his head, letting go a deep sigh.

mcharley60: Oh, boy, this lady”¦always cruising for a bruising.

Quiet_Storm: Not I…this is why I am free.

Quiet_Storm: No more bruising for me.

Quiet_Storm: Just cruising!

mcharley60: My saying that just means wantin‘ an argument.

Quiet_Storm: Oh, and that interprets a need for bruising to you?

mcharley60: Not in the way you may be thinking”¦ah, well, that’s okay, I’ll tame you…

mcharley60: In time.

Quiet_Storm: Hmmmm? Tame me? Yeah, right.

mcharley60: It’ll be just like roping a steer.

Quiet_Storm: Excuse me?

mcharley60: You’re welcome.

Quiet_Storm: LOL…yeah, right.

mcharley60: Tell me, what are you wearing?

Quiet_Storm: Huh?

mcharley60: I want to picture you.

Quiet_Storm: Oh…ummm, well…I’m…ummm, wearing…my night shirt.

mcharley60: I see…

mcharley60: through it.

mcharley60: LOL

Quiet_Storm: No you don’t! You just cut that out, Shawn Styles!

mcharley60: Everett Styles, or Shawn McPherson, for you, Shawn – period.

mcharley60: Something else, I got you a gift.

Quiet_Storm: Oh, yeah…why?

mcharley60: Well, just cuz.

mcharley60: Look out the window.

Quiet_Storm: Huh?

Quiet_Storm: Out the window?

Quiet_Storm: Why?

mcharley60: Look out your window, lady!

Quiet_Storm: That’s silly…why, what’s out there?

mcharley60: Up there, in the sky…I give you the moon and the stars.

Quiet_Storm: Awwww, *giggle* problem is, they’re not yours to give.

mcharley60: No, but they’re ours to share.

Quiet_Storm: Oh…yes…wow. Thanks…*gulp*

mcharley60: We can both look at the same moon…that brings us closer together.

mcharley60: The stars look like pearls.

Quiet_Storm: Shawn…*sigh*…yes, I guess they do.

Quiet_Storm: But…well, maybe we should just…slow down a bit.

Quiet_Storm: I mean…you don’t have to say those kind of things to me.

mcharley60: I know that, but…

Quiet_Storm: Besides, it’s probably a line you’ve used on others.

mcharley60: Yes, but a long time ago…

mcharley60: LOL“¦I mean it with you!

Quiet_Storm: Ummm, excuse me, but your current “unsure relationship” isn’t from a long time ago.

mcharley60: Sylvia”¦no one honks my horn like you do.

Quiet_Storm: Honks your horn? Lmao – you callin’ yourself a honky?

mcharley60: Hey! LOL, be nice

Quiet_Storm: Sorry, that was your line -you need to get a new one, and a new pole while you’re at it!

mcharley60: My old pole works just fine!

Quiet_Storm: LOL“¦well, your line needs replacing.

Quiet_Storm: ‘Cause this fish ain’t like any other.

mcharley60: Lady, you will bite.

mcharley60: I’ve got just the right lure, your kind’ah bait!

Quiet_Storm: Well, I guess this fish, just ain’t hungry!

mcharley60: You’re gettin’ there. When you’re ready to bite”¦I’ll be pulling you right in.

Quiet_Storm: Yeah, well, I think we should close this for tonight.

mcharley60: Yes, I agree. But tomorrow, I’ve decided to call you. I want to hear your voice.

Quiet_Storm: Oh, really? You’ve decided, hm? And if I’m not here to take the call?

mcharley60: You’ll be there. Because you’re ready to hear my voice as well. I’ll call at nine tomorrow night…your time. Goodnight, sweetheart.

And he signed off, leaving Sylvia with her mouth open, which slowly closed into a smile, followed by a sigh. She closed her Yahoo chat-box and other open programs, finally shutting down her computer and turning off the light in her office; walking through her dark house as she flicked off lights. With an incredible, tenacious, and handsome man on her mind she climbed into bed, pulling the covers to her chest, she nestled her head deep into her comfortable pillow and smiled on her way to sleep.

Chapter 18

During the day in the days that followed, Shawn spent it entertaining his daughter. Spoiling her with his time, attention, and gifts. Scuba diving and exploring the water world, something they both enjoyed. Taking a boat out for fishing”¦and shopping. Tolerant and grinning, he endured being loaded down with bags and boxes because as any young woman did, his Angela loved shopping too. Not to mention being saddled with two of her friends who often came along for the ride. Every movie out in the theatres, he’d seen. All the dance clubs for sixteen and under where no alcohol was served, he was coerced into taking her and her friends with him present to watch over them, of course. Weekdays, he’d take her to school, and then did the photo sessions with the selected models who stood for the novel characters. Arranging them in various groups for the cover of the trilogy. Then gathering props and backgrounds, he started doing the layout. First a rough sketch drawn in pencil, doing a set of three for each book of the trilogy. Contacting Mercy James, he set up an appointment for her to select from the nine rough sketches.

Again, her husband was present, giving his viewpoint. They met at their condo, where he was surprised to see they had five children. Three in their teens, a 15 year old daughter, a 14 year old son, and the youngest 13. A big space, then 2 year old twins, a boy and girl, both blondes with dusky, dark skin“”who were all over the place, forcing Lowell to call out to the older ones to retrieve them. They were mesmerizing to look at, and so beautiful. Their youngest teen daughter poked her blonde head in”¦she, too, looked like her father.

“Can you please watch them until this meeting is over?” asked Lowell, who held each under an arm like a sack of potatoes against his side, both grinning and kicking to get down. Smiling, Lisa grabbed one, then the other, much as her dad held them. Being that she was much smaller than her father, the twin boy, hyper as a wiggle-worm, slipped to the floor and took off at a toddler’s sprint, laughing in eager excitement to be free. Only to be spoiled by the older daughter, Erica, who scooped him up before he could make a sure escape.

Lowell drew in a deep breath, sighing as he closed the door, turning back into their small study office to see his wife’s grinning countenance. “I swear, those two are going to be the end of me,” he complained lightheartedly. She rose from her chair and sashayed over to him, wrapping her arms around his waist, devilry in her eyes as she promised him, “The end? You sure? Well, I’ll have to help you with that later”¦won’t I?” Blushing and shaking his head, Lowell looked up from his wife to their guest. “See what I have to put up with? That’s how those last two up and surprised me!” He grinned.

“Lowell!” Mercy exclaimed.

Shawn smiled.

“Eh, it’s true! Now, behave yourself, you. I’ll take care of you later.” He winked, looking down at his wife, slapping her bottom. “Now get over there and get down to business.” Grinning, she winked a promise to him and did as she was told.

Pulling away from their condo summer home, Shawn couldn’t help but think about his own life. What the James’ had, he’d always wanted. A close-knit, happy family. A house filled with noise, children, and excitement. Husband, wife, and children who admired, respected, and obeyed their parents”¦all from a foundation of pure love. Not too different from the life he’d had growing up in his family. Yet all he had to show for it was a divorce certification. Considering his lovely daughter, not all was a failure.

This only brought Sylvia to mind. She was tough, but he knew he could handle her. She was just unsure of him. But he knew that there were feelings there. Just as he’d asked, she’d been there for his phone call. They’d stayed on for two hours, him talking about everything and nothing. She had done the same. Mainly about her children, and her marriage of so many years to a husband that never quite got the picture of how to handle a woman such as she. After the first conversation on the phone, he’d called her twice more. Leaving her with a means to contact him for any reason should she find one fitting, besides the obvious one, that being, to hear his voice. To assure herself that he indeed still found her to be utmost in his mind. A week had gone by. It was Friday, and he’d been instructed by Angela to pick up an outfit belonging to a friend who needed it for some event that evening. As he stood on the doorstep of Deidre’s parent’s grand mansion, he felt completely out of place as he always had, hearing the echo of the cathedral-like chiming doorbell. The door opened with a smiling Anthony to greet him, as usual.

“Afternoon, Mr. Styles.”

“Afternoon, Anthony. My daughter has a package here for me to pick up to deliver to a friend. Would you know anything about that?”

“No, sir, but perhaps Ms. Deidre would, hold on while I get her.” Shawn smiled. “Thank you.” As the butler turned to do so, Oscar T. Wherrington stepped into the foyer from his den, its door not far from the entryway. He stood there, staring with obvious displeasure at the unwelcome visitor. Shawn felt a tightening in his stomach, not of fear, but of discomfort. He’d just as soon not be bothered with this man. Standing there watching Oscar watch him in return, brought back many unpleasant memories. Oscar had had plans for his daughter – none of which included Shawn’s act of impregnating her, and filling her head with idealistic dreams of a happy marriage and home life; of having babies in some northern hick town, where she would have no doubt learned to milk cows.

“What could you possibly want now? You have your daughter, isn’t that enough?”

“Calm down, Oscar. Just here to pick up a little package. Nothing to get all worked up over. I’ll be gone in no time,” Shawn returned calmly.

Oscar turned to the side with an arm open and out to invite him into his den.

“No, thank you. I’m fine where I stand.”

“Maybe so, but there’s something I wish to discuss with you. It won’t take much more of your time. Please.” Again he gestured for him to enter the den. Inhaling deep, Shawn finally stepped forward down the hall a bit, turning to enter. “Have a seat. Would you like a drink?”

“No. I’d just as soon you get on with it,” Shawn requested from the diamondback leather chair positioned before Oscar’s desk. Oscar stood across the room behind him, fixing himself a drink. “I hear you’re an illustrative artist for romance novels,” he opened, the disdain and distaste obvious in his pitch.

“It’s a living,” Shawn answered simply, not caring to get into a discourse apparently contrived to make him feel like cow dung.

“I suppose, but, what about Angela? I’d think you’d want something better for her.”

“That’s for Angela to decide, and whatever that is, I will support it. Just as my parents tried to support me.”

Oscar chuckled. “Ah, yes, a cover maker for romance novels”¦I see.” He walked towards his desk with drink in hand, and circled it to take a seat in his throne-like leather chair. “Seems to me, your lot in life has already been cast. But Angela”¦well, I’m thinking there can be something better out there for her. As her father, I would think you would want the absolute best for her. I have the means to offer her that. All I need is a little cooperation from you”¦with something in return for you as well, of course,” Oscar suggested. Shawn sat back with an incredulous lifted brow. “What exactly are you getting at?”

“That you leave Angela’s upbringing to us. Let us steer her in the direction for a future career that any father would be proud of.”

“Pride, or being proud of my daughter, does not hinge upon her career choices.”

“I would expect such a comment from you, considering where you come from. But I know that in this world”””

“You mean in your world! And I might interject that your world is small, a minority.”

“Perhaps”¦but it is here, in my world, where power””true power””and control stems from. Here is where the template of standard and acceptance originates. So, small? No. Few”¦the privileged? Yes. That’s the difference in our understanding. All depends on your place of origin,” Oscar added.

“Look, I don’t have time for this. Nor am I interested in whatever scheme you’ve concocted to get your way. Fact is, Angela, is my daughter. I will decide what is best for her,” stating that, Shawn stood. Oscar followed, growing impatient.

“Wait a minute, McPherson! Hear me out. I’m willing to support your talent of painting”¦artistry. You can pursue a more worthy place in society as a respected artist, instead of wasting it on five dollar drugstore, paperback romance novel – nonsense!”

“Oh, really? And all I have to do is sacrifice my daughter to you.”

Deidre walked in the room after standing outside to eavesdrop on the conversation. “Father, what are you doing?” Oscar looked at his daughter then back to Shawn. “Trying to salvage something of your life by making a better one for your daughter.”

“There’s nothing wrong with my daughter’s life,” Shawn defended.

“To you, no. You can’t see that there is because you’re too busy riding the countryside with your hooligan Harley gang. And in between, you get to paint a few naked women, have a few affairs and fly in to pick up a check. You drop in on your daughter, who spends most of her time pining for your presence, by the way, because you seduce her”¦just as you do any other woman who crosses your path, including my daughter!”

“Daddy!”

“You shut up! Let me handle this!” he shot out to quiet her, then turned back to Shawn. “A million dollars will support you comfortably in the way you like to live. You can use it as you see fit. Maybe even use some of it to become a real artist”¦one worthy of attention and praise.”

Shawn stood steaming, trying to fight down an equal hatred for this man, as he no doubt felt for him.

“Think about it, McPherson. End that child’s misery. Erase all of this nonsense of you trying to be something you’re not! You really care anything about her, you’ll turn her over to our care””entirely. That way, you can get on with your life.”

Shawn turned his angry stare away from Oscar to Deidre, who stood lividly shaking as well. She turned from her father to her ex-husband.

“I had nothing to do with this, Shawn. Nothing. Please believe me!” she cried, holding the plastic store bag that he’d come to pick up in her hand. With nostrils flared, Shawn stepped from between the two chairs where he’d stood and walked past Deidre; who turned to follow him.

“Deidre! Leave him! Give him time to think. It’s a million dollars, after all.”

Deidre stopped, turning with a heated blaze from her gold-hazel eyes towards her father. “Was ruining my life and our marriage not enough for you? Will you do it to Angela, as well?”

“Sorry, but ruining your life was your doing, when you came home to us pregnant with that man’s child. Don’t blame me for trying to fix it for you,” Oscar defended. Deidre turned away from him, shaking her head, and following Shawn as he headed for the door.

“Shawn, wait! Hold on”¦the bag!” she called, speeding up to catch him as he made his rapid exit out the door and down the few steps.

“Wait, Shawn, you have to believe me. I had nothing to do with what he said in there. You have to believe me. I know you love Angela. I agree with you. I want her to lead her life in the direction she wants as well.”

“Then why do you stay here? Why do you continue to subject her to this man’s bullshit? Why can’t you stand on your own two feet and get out of here? You that stuck on this lifestyle, that you’re willing to sacrifice your daughter’s happiness to keep it?”

“You don’t understand!”

“An’ don’t want to! The bag, please!” He held his hand out to retrieve it. Sighing, feeling lost and hopeless, she handed it over.

“Can we get together and talk, Shawn”¦before you leave town, following your business here?” she asked, following him to the car where he opened the door, throwing the bag to the back seat.

“About what?” he asked sharply.

“I want us to talk,” she admitted softly.

“We have nothing to talk about, Deidre. Only thing between us, is our daughter.”

“Surely she’s worth us at least getting together to talk? To resolve some things between us,” she furthered. Shawn ran his hand over his face, his foot propped up inside his car door as he leaned his triceps on the top of the open door. Turning to her, he looked at her. It suddenly occurred to him that way back when, he hadn’t really been in love with Deidre. But he’d been raised right, raised to be responsible for his actions. Though they hadn’t been teenagers””Deidre, 28 and he, 33″”Shawn still thought it was the right thing to do; get married and try to build a family, since it had already begun. He’d gotten so caught up in her being pregnant with his child and the fun they had together, he honestly believed they could make it”¦that they were in love. Had he been in love, he would be trying to rekindle it now”¦instead of opposing it. There was only one woman on his mind he was trying to gain the acceptance of love and marriage from, and that was Sylvia. Suddenly it became abundantly clear to him, that he was in love with her”¦in love with Sylvia Payne. That’s what he wanted. That’s who he wanted.

“Shawn?”

“Look, Deidre. Thank you, for not being in on that with you father. That’s nice. That’s good, and I’ll do my part to be more present for Angela. I want her to come and stay the summer with me next year. I, too, would like for us to get along better than we have, for her sake. But”¦that’s all that can be fixed between us. That’s all. As long as you understand that, we’re fine.”

“I see. So, there’s someone else in your life then?”

“Yes.”

“Who is she?”

“The woman I’m going to marry.”

Deidre sucked in, stunned. “Oh.”

Shawn swallowed in sympathy to her obvious distress. “I’m sorry, Deidre, but”¦too little, too late.”

“So, who is she? Where’d you meet her?”

“Why do I get the feeling you probably already know?”

“How would I know?”

“Our daughter, of course,” he replied.

Deidre sighed, then admitted, “Are you sure you’re up for that type of challenge in a relationship?”

“I guess I am.” With a brief salute, Shawn sank into the car seat, slamming the door. He started the engine and was off. Deidre stood watching him make his exit from their driveway, thinking it couldn’t be over”¦somehow, she had to make him see that his future happiness lie with her and his daughter. Even if it meant relocating to Wisconsin to make it happen. She turned away and headed for the house, and by the looks of things, the sooner she made the move, the better.

“Hello?”

“It’s me.”

“Oh”¦hi, how are you?”

“Missing you.”

Sylvia lay in bed. It was 10:30 at night. She’d been up reading, thinking about him. The page she stopped on, she’d reread four times already. “I don’t know what to say.”

“Say that you miss me.”

“Shawn”¦Shawn”¦” A sigh escaped her.

“Say that you miss me,” he repeated, determined.

“I-I”¦miss you”¦being around,” she said finally. She could hear him sighing on the other end, then silence grew between them.

“What’s wrong? Something happen there?” she asked, sensing it.

Again she heard his deep inhaling, not yet ready to answer and then, “Bullshit and life go hand in hand”¦doesn’t it?” he finally stated. This was different from the man she’d come to know. His tone was different. He had a need in him, and he’d called her with it. Suddenly, Sylvia’s heart picked up pace, pumping hard in her chest for this side of him, she was scared to death she’d fallen in love.

“From time to time”¦for us all, I’m afraid. What’s happened?”

“Oh, nothing I can’t handle. I wish I were there right now. With you. Stealing a kiss”¦” he chuckled deep. “”¦ah, but you still owe me from the bet.” For once she smiled and did not fight it. “Yes, I do owe you”¦and were you here tonight”¦I’d be prone to pay it.”

That made him sit up straight. “What! Oh, great! Of course that won’t be the tune when I’m there, you tease!”

Her chuckle was deep and throaty”¦almost erotic. He groaned, sliding back into his bed. “One more week, lady, and I’ll be wrapping things up on this end, making my way back to you. Expecting to claim that kiss you just promised me.”

Sylvia laughed out, “I don’t remember promising you anything. All I said was, if you were here, tonight, I’d be prone to pay it. Who knows what next week will bring,” she simpered. He could hear the smile in her tone.

“You are a tease.”

“I am not a tease. I just refuse to give myself over to a man simply for his play and pleasure. I’m worth more than that, and I refuse to accept less.”

“That you are. I agree with you, lady. That’s why I can’t wait to get home. We’ve got things to talk about.”

“Is that right?”

“Doggone right, it is. I want you, Sylvia Payne, and I aim to have you. Get that through your head now, because I’m not wasting another moment with you when I get back home. Goodnight.” Click.

Sylvia gasped as she was left holding the phone. Sighing, she clicked the off button on her cordless and sat it on her bedside table. Sliding down under her covers once again, a smile followed her to sleep.