17
Mimi hummed, whistled, and sang herself home. How she got home otherwise was a mystery. All she remembered was that she had put the car in gear, gotten on the freeway, and now she was pulling into the entrance of her subdivision. She was too old to a let a man that she hadn’t seen in nineteen years, but still had it going on, work her nerves like that.
Looking wasn’t a sin, but the kiss she had placed on that man’s lips or the one he had placed on hers was. After all, she was a married woman—a happily married woman, and no other man would ever take the place of Raphael. Raphael was the provider, the protector, and the only lover for her because he did it so well. They were each other’s rock, salvation, the end of all ends.
So why was she thinking about John? He was her first real love, although she never had sex with him. There was no memory to make her stomach feel queasy as it did now. Maybe it was a friendly face in the midst of the warfare she had going on with Victor. Nevertheless, she couldn’t wipe the smile off her face as she fantasized about seeing John in his ultra short shorts.
Mimi pulled her car into the attached garage, still humming as she got out. Floating on cloud nine, she retrieved the mail from the mailbox and went into the house. She deposited her things on a chair in the kitchen and immediately went to the junk drawer and removed her journal and began to write.
October 9, 2008
I can’t get this silly grin off of my face. Who would have thought that I’d see him again? For the first time since arriving in Durham, I plunged back into my fitness program. I drove to Lake Johnson because I remembered the wonderful walking trails that looped around the lake. After a short warm-up session, I walked, sprinted, ran for five miles. I felt wonderful, and the day couldn’t have been more beautiful. And then there he was.
At the end of my run, I headed back to my car. Imagine the shock when I saw this handsome man heading toward me, and as I took a second look, realized it was John, my long lost love, although he was a little older and had added a few pounds. I’m sure it was attributed to age and by all appearances his constant workout at the gym.
He was wearing these cute white shorts, exposing those legs that he used to wrap around me when I would tease him and then refuse to give up the goods. But his whole body made my knees tremble, and when he kissed me on the lips—no tongue, although I would have accepted it, I wanted to melt. I know that if I had gotten any closer to him, felt the bulge in all of his muscles, I would have been done for.
But like most married women, I came to my senses. I don’t think Raf would be upset with me for entertaining a fantasy of my brief encounter. He even admitted to me that when I described how Victor was checking me out, it turned him on. And it proved to be the best phone sex we’d ever had.
Maybe I’m feeling a little bit guilty for having these feelings. True, I miss my husband, but John provided a visual to get me through tonight. Help me, Lord. Earth to Mimi.
But I’m going to see John again—to catch up for old time’s sake. I really hate to diss Brenda, but it’s probably for the best since her crazy, warped husband has warned me to stay away from her. My gut feeling, though, tells me something else is going on in the Christianson household, and I believe Brenda needs a friend. I owe it to her, but I’m going to meet John on Friday. I’m going to see Brenda, but I’ve got to do this other thing for myself.
Wow, I’m still grinning…smiling. Oops. Dropped my pen, but I’m back. I feel so silly—like I’ve got this schoolgirl crush on the hottest boy on the football team. He is that, now. But Raf, I love you more.
Mimi Bailey
Mimi closed her journal and sat at the table with the biggest grin painted on her face. She picked up her purse from the chair and pulled out the piece of paper with John’s telephone number on it. She fingered the paper, reached for her cell, dialed the first three digits, and hit the END button. What in the hell was she doing? She had a wonderful life, and her purpose at the moment was to help get Afrika through college.
The BlackBerry clinked on the glass of the kitchen table as it slipped out of Mimi’s hand. She picked up her mail and began to sift through it. Advertisement, bill, bill, advertisement and a folded up piece of paper. Mimi unfolded it and dropped it on the table upon reading the cryptic message.
What are you waiting for? I’ve given you fair warning. Take your daughter and get out of Durham. If you don’t take care of it soon, I will take matters into my own hands. And stay away from Brenda.
“You sorry son-of-a-bitch. I’m not going anywhere and you don’t scare me,” Mimi said out loud. She picked up the piece of paper, wadded it up, and threw it across the room. Two seconds later, she retrieved it and put it in the junk drawer underneath her journal. “This piece of paper is going to convict your ass; I’m going to do something that I should’ve done a long time ago.”
Mimi picked up her BlackBerry and dialed John’s number. She needed to confide in someone—she needed to let someone know that Victor had threatened her. John was going to get an earful at lunch and, for the first time, she felt good about sharing her secret.