The following is an excerpt from my re-released novel, "Livin' Just Enough: SistaGirlz, Book # 1 ~ Rachael's Story"
Secret Lovers...
After his mother's funeral, Aaron moved in with his grandmother. He promised me that on his 18th birthday, he would get us a place so we could be together. In the meantime, even though he finished paying all of his mother's overdue bills, Aaron continued to sell drugs the entire time he lived with Big Mama.
Since my mom couldn't afford to get me nice things and Aaron wanted his lady in nothing but the best, my man's criminal occupation afforded him the ability to spoil me with everything I ever wanted. Louis Vuitton. Prada. Gucci. Coach. La Perla. Anything I asked for, Aaron bought it for me. Unfortunately, bringing my gifts home was no easy task as I was constantly under the watchful eye of Bianca Wallace, which made things go from a bit difficult to damn near impossible. To explain where the gifts came from, Aaron suggested that I tell my mom that I "got a job" at an upscale retail store. When she first questioned my bags and bags of clothes, I simply told my mother that I was getting an employee discount, which she believed and that lie allowed me to bring Aaron's gifts home with much less scrutiny.
The summer before my senior year in high school, just as he promised, Aaron got an apartment. He loved when I came over to cook dinner for him and he kept the fridge and pantry stocked with everything we wanted to eat. The most difficult part of my visits was when I had to go back home because Aaron would always ask me to move in.
One late summer evening, he started our evening with his request.
"We'll have to wait until I turn eighteen. Then she can't say anything because I'll be an adult," I explained while rinsing chicken in Aaron's kitchen.
"You keep saying that but you're going to be a senior this year, Rachael," Aaron said as he entered the kitchen, pulling his trademark move of slipping his arms around my waist and kissing the nape of my neck. "How many of your girls have their own apartment? How many of them are livin' with their man? None. Just think how jealous they'll be when you move in!"
"Baby, I don't care about what my friends think and have. But I would love to make it to my next birthday which is only a few months away and I can't do that if I move out of my mama's house and in with you," I pointed out as I began to season the chicken. "You waited for me this long. A couple more months won't hurt you, will it?"
"No, but I hate waiting until you sneak over to see me. Once you move in, it'll be easier to surprise you with stuff like this." Aaron reached into his pocket and pulled out a ring box.
By now, I was used to Aaron buying me clothes and jewelry but this time felt different. I stopped seasoning the chicken to wash my hands. As I dried my hands and turned to face my boyfriend, I said, "What is it?"
"It wouldn't be a surprise if I told you. Gon' an' open it," he coaxed with a devilish grin.
Aaron talked about marriage more and more each day but I never took him seriously. "That better not be what I think it is," I said as I took the box. Inside was a key. I have to admit that I was a little bit disappointed. "Boy! I thought this was an..."
"An engagement ring?" Aaron smiled. "Not until you graduate from school. But this," he said as he took the key out of the box, "is your key to OUR apartment."
"Aaron..." I huffed in exasperation, expecting to explain again why I couldn't move in with him yet.
"That way you can come and go when you want to without waiting until I come home," he hinted. "And I would love for you to be here waiting for me when I do."
You know how you see the angel and the devil on a cartoon character's shoulders when they have to make a decision about something? This was one of those times for me.
The angel said, "Rachael, he's a drug dealer. If he wants to be with you, he has to give up that lifestyle!"
Then the devil said, "Girl, you betta take that key and move your happy hips in here! Ever since you gave it up to him, he's been breakin' yo' back on a regular and if you're sleepin' right next to him every night, you can have it that much more! MOVE IN GIRL!"
"Rachael?" Aaron asked bringing me back to reality. "Do you wanna do it?"
"Do what?"
"Move in with me?" Aaron looked at me with expectant eyes.
Considering the fact that my mom and I hadn't been getting along too well ever since she discovered that I never stopped seeing Aaron, I was leaning toward taking him up on his offer. As I looked down at the key, Aaron knelt down on his knees in front of me.
"Don't make me beg, Rachael." Aaron looked so serious, as if his next breath depended on my response!
Damn him!
"Yes."
"Yes?" Aaron stood up and looked up at me.
"Yes, I'll move in with you..."
"YES! SHE SAID YES!!!" Aaron picked me up and spun me around the kitchen.
"Hey, hey, hey!" I exclaimed. "I wasn't done yet!"
"Oh, sorry. Go ahead and finish," Aaron smiled as he set me down on the floor.
Putting my hands on his broad chest, I looked up at Aaron. "I'll move in with you if you stop selling drugs."
His face dropped. After a moment of silence, he said, "What makes you think I still am?"
"For starters, all the gifts you give me are pretty expensive and you can't tell me you make that kind of money from cutting hair at the barber shop," I said.
"Rachael, you'd be amazed what I can get for my haircuts plus tips," Aaron explained with a grin. "Besides that's not the only thing I do to make money so you don't have to worry about a thing, OK, Baby? I'm not gonna do anything to make me lose you, I promise."
"Aaron..."
"Rachael, have I ever lied to you? I know I have some crazy hours but my work schedule shouldn't stop you from moving in with me," he said as he kissed each of my hands before putting the key in the left one. "When you move in, I'll have more reason to stay home. I'm only working to keep from being home alone. Say you'll move in."
"Aaron, my mama doesn't want me to move out until I graduate from college," I stated. "But I'll compromise. We can wait until my birthday."
"Well, if you wanna wait until November to tell her, that's fine with me but you can still be here more than you're over there, right?" Knowing that he was winning his battle, Aaron pulled me close to him. "And the next time I give you a ring box, I promise it will be what you're expecting."
After a lovely meal of fried chicken wings with angel hair pasta in Alfredo sauce, the devil on my shoulder jumped for joy as Aaron and I made love before he drove me back home that same night. Since my mom worked nights, Aaron figured that he and I could go into the house, pack a few of my things for Aaron to take back to his place then I'd go to bed as if nothing was going on.
Mrs. Wallace had other plans for Aaron and me.
Before I could get my key into the door good, Aaron swung me around and kissed me.
"What was that for?" I asked, caught off guard.
"Because I love you and I'm so happy we're finally doing this!" Aaron whispered. "Even though it's just a few things now, you're finally movin' in with me!"
"Aaron," I said as I stepped into the house. "It's not like you're taking my virginity. You did that on my 16th birthday, remember? And why are you whispering? My mama ain't home yet."
Just then, I smelled the stench of fresh cigarette smoke in the air. Before I could react, I heard a voice in the darkness.
"What in the hell is he doing here?" she said.
"MAMA!" I spun around to see my mother's silhouette sitting on the couch. "What are you doing here?" I asked in shock from her unexpected presence.
"I live here, remember?" she said as she turned on a table lamp. "But what I wanna know is why in the hell yo' fast ass is out so late and what the fuck is this muthafucka doing in my house?!"
"Um, um..." I stammered before Aaron came to my rescue.
"Mrs. Wallace, we came to get a few of Rachael's things," he said calmly.
What the fuck did you say that for?!
"To get her things?" Mama said before putting out her cigarette and stumbling over to us. "And where in the hell do you think you're going, Rachael Lee Wallace?"
"Mama, I was gonna tell you later," I began.
"Tell me what, Rachael?" Mama was right in my face and all I could smell was her vodka soaked tobacco breath. "That this punk ass nigga done got you pregnant? That he's still selling drugs? What the fuck you gon' tell me Rachael that's gon' make me let you leave my house?!"
"I love your daughter, Mrs. Wallace," Aaron said as he stepped between my mother and me.
"You don't love her! You love the pussy she's givin' up to you!" Mama spat back.
"MAMA!" I shrieked.
"Rachael, gon' upstairs and get all of your stuff. I'll stay here and talk with your mom," Aaron coaxed in a firm yet calm voice. How he could be calm with my mother acting like that was beyond me!
Minutes later, I came downstairs to find my mother in the kitchen drinking a cup of coffee, smoking another cigarette, and sitting with Aaron. They were actually talking! I was almost afraid to ask what happened while I was upstairs but since there was no bloodshed, I felt safe enough to see what the conversation was about.
"Mama?" I asked hesitantly as I looked at Aaron who only smiled back at me.
"Hey Ray," Mama grinned. "Come on and have a seat. I've been talking with your young man and it turns out that I've been wrong about him all this time."
Slowly sitting down across from Aaron, I asked my mother, "What do you mean?"
"Ron explained to me about his mom and him doing odd jobs to help her out with the bills." Patting Aaron's hand, my mother continued. "It's a shame about what happened to Nessa but I'm glad my Rachael was there for you."
"Me, too, Mrs. Wallace," said Aaron as he looked at me. "Baby Girl, you all packed up?"
"Yeah, but..." Looking at my mother, I said, "Is it OK, Mama?"
"Rachael, you're a very responsible young woman and you don't need me hovering over you anymore. If you wanna move in with Ron, go right ahead. You didn't have to try to sneak out but I understand."
You could have knocked me over with a feather! I couldn't believe my mother gave me permission to leave... with Aaron! Before she changed her mind, I kissed her on the cheek and started to take my things out to Aaron's car.
"I'll be out in a minute, Baby," Aaron said as he stood in my mother's doorway. As I packed my clothes into the backseat, Aaron and my mother exchanged a few words then he came to take us back to the apartment.
* *
Taking into consideration my mother and I weren't that close before I moved in with Aaron, I didn't find it too odd that I didn't hear from her. She wanted all boys and, of course, I broke that streak. But for me not to even hear from her in the two months since I'd moved out of her house hit me kinda hard.
"Aaron!" I called out when I walked into the apartment after one of my weekly shopping sprees.
"Back here, Baby!" Aaron responded from the bedroom. He was lying on the bed, watching TV. "Come here," he said when I appeared in the doorway.
"I'm not in the mood," I lied. With him wearing nothing but a smile, I had a good idea of what he wanted cuz I wanted it too! Knowing that I would have time to sort through them later, I placed my purchases inside our walk-in closet. Sitting on the bed beside Aaron and looking him directly in his hazel eyes, I asked, "Has my mom been calling over here?"
Aaron's face remained motionless. "Come closer," he coaxed as he patted the empty space beside him. Without trying to, I glanced at his dick just when he made it jump.
Easy girl. Business before Pleasure!
"Aaron..."
"Rachael," he said sternly, no doubt in reaction to me ignoring his advances. "Your mom has called a few times but she's usually drunk as hell and cussin me' out for stealing her daughter away from her."
"And you're just now telling me about this?!" I asked with a raised eyebrow. "That's my Mama! If she's been calling, drunk or sober, I want to talk to her!"
Aaron rose off the bed and walked around the bed to me. The coolness of the room dissipated as he came closer. Suddenly my entire body felt feverish! As the throbbing between my thighs continued, I tried to ignore it. I loved how Aaron made me weak but right now, I was trying to have a serious discussion!
CHILL hormones!!! We'll get some later! Right now, I need to FOCUS!!!
"I'm going to call and check on her," I stated as I rose from the bed and headed out of the room before Aaron could touch me. As I walked toward the kitchen to get the cordless phone, I could hear him following me. Dialing my mom's number, I looked at Aaron and said, "Yes?"
"Who you calling?" he asked as he pulled me to his naked body.
"I just told you that I was calling my mom," I replied as Aaron turned me around so that my back faced him. His hands were relaxed around my waist but his erection told a different tale.
"Call her later," he said with The Bedroom Voice.
"Nuh uh, Aaron," I replied weakly as he began kissing my neck. By the time my mom answered the phone, I was almost ready to strip right there in the kitchen!
"Mama!" I exclaimed, prompting Aaron to back away suddenly and reluctantly return to the bedroom. "How have you been?"
"Fine," she said coldly.
Taken aback by her tone, I said, "I haven't heard from you in a while. Are you sure you're OK? I've been calling and trying to stop by to see you but you're never home."
"Why you worryin' bout me now?" Her voice was slurred. Oh my God! It was late afternoon and Mama was already drunk! In the background, I could hear a gruff male voice calling her back to bed.
"I see you have company so I'll let you go," I said. "But call me if..."
"I ain't gon' be callin' yo' slutty gold diggin' ass, Ray!" my mother shouted. "I hope that nigga knocks you up with fo' kids, cheats on ya and leaves ya ass for another woman!"
She slammed the phone in my ear, causing me to drop the phone on my end.
What in the hell was that about? Who in the hell is over there with her? And why did she say such hateful things?!
Hurt and confused, I stepped into the bathroom. Suddenly I was overwhelmed with tears. No doubt hearing my sobbing, Aaron slowly entered the room. Thankfully, he was wearing boxer shorts.
"Baby?" Aaron took me in his arms and I let loose with the waterworks. "What did she say this time?"
"Aaron, she was so... so...cold!" All I could do was cry.
Holding me tight, Aaron gently assured me, "It's OK, Rachael. I love you and I'm not going anywhere."
As my boyfriend gently rocked me in his arms, I couldn't help wondering what went wrong with my mother and me. I knew she wasn't happy about me with Aaron but she gave me permission to leave! Why is she acting this way?!
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Lea Mishell