The Preachers Son (6 page)

“Probably because I don’t hang out around here too tough. I was just dropping off a friend up the block. Figured I’d get a sandwich.”

Lucky me
, I thought.

“So this friend, are you and her close?” I know it was bold, but I wanted to know if he had a woman.

He stared at me and laughed as he shook his head. I knew that look. It was the same look I gave guys when they came up with corny-ass lines. “Yeah, actually we are pretty close. But she is a he, and he’s my best friend, not my girlfriend.”

“Oh,” I gave him a lighthearted laugh. “So you don’t have a girlfriend or a boyfriend?”

“I don’t have a girlfriend,” he said calmly then raised his voice. “And I damn sure don’t have a boyfriend.”

“What about kids?”

“No kids. Why you asking me all these questions anyway? You with the police? If you are, I want a lawyer.”

Oops. Time to chill. I knew he was joking, but maybe I had pushed a little too far. Some brothers don’t like such personal questions right off the bat, and his expression and comment let me know he was probably one of them. Not that it mattered. I’d found out all I needed to know. He didn’t have a girlfriend, he didn’t have any kids, and he definitely wasn’t gay. Three points for the home team.

“Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to offend you. I was just making conversation. You know how we women can just run off at the mouth sometimes.”

“I guess,” he replied suspiciously. “Look, I’ll see you tomorrow if you stop by the poetry theater.”

“Oh, you better believe I’ll be there.” I gave him a wink. “Matter of fact, why don’t you pick me up? Like I said, I really like poetry.”

“You do?” He looked surprised.

“Yeah, I do. I’ve been to Def Poetry Jam like four times, and I got all of Nikki Giovanni’s books. That sister is bad.”

He nodded as if he was impressed, but he still hadn’t said yes, so it was time to be a little more persistent.

“So what’s up? You gonna pick me up or what?”

He hesitated like he had no idea what to say. Either that or he was about to hurt my feelings by saying no; but I wasn’t about to take no as an answer.

“Hey, what are you afraid of? I won’t bite. You did say you like girls, didn’t you?”

“Yeah, I like girls.” He gave me an ice-cold stare. I guess he was touchy about that subject or something.

“Well, then what’s wrong with me? I know I don’t have no makeup on and my hair ain’t done, but I just woke up, and at seven-thirty in the morning even Halle Berry don’t look this good.” I placed my hand on my hip and posed, trying my best to show off my slammin’ figure. “Besides, you can’t ask me out on a second date if we don’t have a first.” It was time for the direct approach.

“So now we’re going on a date?”

“Yep.”

“Do I have any say in this?” He chuckled.

“Yeah, you get to pick out what restaurant we’re going to when we leave the poetry theater.”

I held my breath as I waited for his reaction. I was relieved to see a smile on his face and even more relieved when he finally gave me the once-over with his eyes, stopping briefly at my titties then my hips. He made me work for it, but I’d finally worn him down. “Okay, how about I pick you up about seven?”

“Six sounds good. What restaurant we going to?”

“I hope you’re not allergic to seafood, because I was thinking Red Lobster.”

“Nah, that’s cool. I love Red Lobster,” I told him as I tried to contain my smile. “I stay over in Forty Projects, Building two, Apartment L.” I pointed in the direction of my building. “Think you can remember that?”

“Uh-huh, I can remember. Apartment L, like in lake.”

“I like to think of it as L, like in lucky. As in be on time and you might get
lucky
.”

He turned his head, probably because he didn’t want me to see him blushing. Now that I’d reeled him in, I was laying it on thick.

“I’ll see you tomorrow, Tanisha.”

“I’ll be waiting,” I told him flirtatiously.

I watched him get in his car, then I rushed home to get my brother off to school. I also needed to get down to Jamaica Avenue to buy me some hair and a new outfit to wear the next night. The next time I saw Mr. Dante, I wasn’t the one who was gonna be sweating him. He was going to be sweating me.

It was Saturday afternoon, the one day of the week that Terrance and I always found time to slip away to his apartment, a hotel, or some inconspicuous place to spend some quality time. When we were together on Saturdays, it was as if we were man and wife. Yeah, I’ll admit we spent most of our time in bed getting our groove on—or as I liked to think of it, making love—but making love on the weekend was always more satisfying than the quickies we snuck in during the week. On Saturdays, Terrance always took his time and we tried new things. He would take me to places physically and mentally that I had never been to before and honestly never wanted to come back from.

As I approached his house, I could hear the sounds of Reuben Studdard playing on the other side of the door, and I had to smile. I’d made the comment to Terrance that I could make love while listening to that man’s singing all night long, and it looked like he was about to take me up on it. I could feel myself getting moist as I thought about the fun we were going to have, but I also had another plan for our afternoon together—a plan that involved our future.

I’d decided it was time for us to take our relationship to the next level. I wanted—no, I needed Terrance to profess his love for me. Oh, deep down inside I knew he loved me, but if I could get him to say the words, I would be one step closer to my goal of being his wife. I could already see myself walking down the aisle while all the other young women from the church who wanted Terrance sat there watching.

I knocked on the door and I heard Terrance shout, “Come in.” I opened the door and was greeted by what seemed like a thousand shimmering candles. God knows that man was always doing something to put a smile on my face. I glanced down at my feet and saw a path of white rose petals leading through the small living room and into the kitchen. I followed them to where they stopped at the back door, which I opened, only to find Terrance sitting in a Jacuzzi I’d never seen before.

“When’d you get this?” I asked curiously as I stared at the Jacuzzi. I couldn’t help it; I was grinning from ear to ear. I’d always wanted to make love in a Jacuzzi.

“They brought it this morning.”

“Who brought it?”

He smiled. “Rent-A-Center. You’d be surprised what those people have to rent. Now stop wasting time. You did tell me one of your fantasies was to make love in a hot tub, wasn’t it?”

I nodded, trying my best to keep from blushing.

“All right, then.” He pointed at the patio table. “There’s a bottle of champagne in the ice bucket. Why don’t you pour yourself a drink and join me?”

He didn’t have to ask me twice. I kicked off my shoes right away. Even so, to prolong the moment, I did a slow striptease, which Terrance let me know he thoroughly enjoyed. I walked over to the table and grabbed the bottle of champagne and a glass. From there I eased my foot into the tub, trying to adjust to the heat of the foaming water.

“Oooh, Terrance, this feels so good.”

“If you think that feels good, you ain’t seen nothing yet.” Terrance licked his lips suggestively.

“Oh yeah? What you got for me?” I asked eagerly.

“Come on in here and find out.” Terrance lifted his eyebrows in that sexy way I loved.

I did as he suggested, first pouring myself a glass of champagne then easing into the Jacuzzi completely. “Okay, I’m here. The next move is yours. What you gonna do?” I teased.

“I’m about to take deep-sea diving to a whole ’nother level.” He smiled then dove under the water. The next thing I knew, his head was between my legs and I was holding on to the sides of the Jacuzzi moaning loudly.

Three hours later Terrance and I were making love in his bed. We’d made love twice in the Jacuzzi and he’d just carried me into his bedroom so we could do it again. He used almond oil to rub my back and massage my feet before we got busy again. The bottle of champagne had been polished off sometime between our first and second rounds in the hot tub. I’m not ashamed to say I was still feeling its effects.

“Oh, Terrance,” I whispered repeatedly, clinging to his back as I climaxed.

“Yeah, baby, that’s it.” He was kissing my neck and it was about to make me climax again.

“I…I love you, Terrance. I love you more than anything in this world,” I cried out as one orgasm took over for another.

Even in my moment of ecstasy I noticed that he did not reciprocate my confession of love. Although I wanted him to say he loved me first, the champagne had loosened up my tongue. Oh, well. I waited…The air turned still. I could tell by his rigid posture that he was caught off guard by my confession, but I couldn’t hold it in any longer. I was in love with Terrance and I
knew
he was in love with me. We’d just never said the words to one another. But now that I’d said them to him, I desperately wanted to hear him tell me the same.

“I love you, Terrance,” I repeated. For three months I’d been trying to entice that man to say he loved me, and at this point I probably would have settled for a “me too,” but that was not going to be the case.

“Donna, I’m not gonna lie to you—” I could tell by the look in his eyes that I didn’t want to hear whatever he was about to say, so I placed my index finger on his lips.

“Shhhh. I know we’ve only been dating a few months. You don’t have to say it back,” I lied. “I just wanted you to know how I feel, and that I’d do anything in the world for you.” I rested my head on his shoulder, hoping he wouldn’t sense my disappointment.

“Donna,” he whispered a few seconds later.

“Yes,” I whispered back, trying to contain my excitement. I had a feeling he was about to say those magical words.

“Do you mean it?”

“Mean what?” I was confused.

“That you love me and you’d do anything for me?” I lifted my head off his shoulder and stared into his eyes. I wanted him to know exactly how serious I was.

“I’ve never meant anything so much in my life. I’ll do anything for you, Terrance.”

He blinked, then I noticed a sparkle in his eyes.

“Would you give me some of this?” Terrance playfully slapped my buttocks, reminding me how he’d slap my butt when I was coming. I know it sounds kinky but I love to have my butt slapped when I make love.

“What did you say, baby?” I wasn’t quite sure I understood what he meant.

“I said how about some of this?” He grabbed my ass.

“You just got some of that, but you know you can have some more any time you want.”

“No, not that.” Terrance moved his finger between my butt cheeks until it was at the entrance to my anus. He poked me with his finger and every muscle in my body tensed. “Some of this. I wanna have anal sex with you.”

He said the words quickly and avoided looking directly into my eyes, so I couldn’t tell if he was actually serious. I stared at him like he’d lost his mind. Goose bumps rose along my arms. I shivered with the thought of the pain. Now, I loved Terrance and all, and he was the only man I’d ever been with, but that—that was just out of the question.

“Forget about it,” he finally said, then rolled away from me and stared at the ceiling. “It was just a thought, a fantasy. You know, like the Jacuzzi was for you.”

“That was different, Terrance.”

“How?” he asked, rolling over on his side. “Your fantasy was to make love in a Jacuzzi, mine is to have anal sex. I made yours happen, and you have the ability to make mine happen.” He stared at me then continued in the sad, pathetic voice. “I think I’ve proven I’d do anything for you, Donna.”

“I know that, Terrance,” I replied, though I hardly thought renting a Jacuzzi was anywhere equal to allowing a man into that part of my body.

“Well, how come you aren’t willing to do the same for me?” He actually sounded upset.

“I am, b—”

He cut me off before I could finish.

“Good, ’cause I wanna try it. I don’t think I’m asking a lot.”

“You’re kidding, aren’t you?” My voice went soprano and cracked with hope on the last two words.
Please Lord, let him be playing
.

“No, I’m serious as a heart attack.” This time he looked me in the eyes as he spoke, which let me know he really was.

“Terrance, I can’t,” I whimpered. “It’s gonna hurt.”

“You don’t have to worry. It won’t hurt. I’ll be just as gentle as I was when you gave me your virginity.”

I sat upright in the bed, pulling the sheet up around me in a protective gesture. I was flabbergasted. I couldn’t believe it. He really wanted to go in the back door! I couldn’t think of anything to say. My mind went blank. Speechless, I glanced over at Terrance. He remained absolutely quiet, resolute.

Finally, he broke the silence. “Donna.”

“What?” I’m sure I sounded annoyed.

He lowered his head. “Just forget about it, all right? If you don’t wanna do it, I’m not gonna force you. Matter of fact, I’ll never bring it up again.”

He leaned over and kissed me, then got out of bed and headed for the bathroom. Thank you, Lord, ’cause if he had pressed the issue, I don’t know what I would have done. Then a thought hit me and an icicle lodged in my throat. If that was what he really wanted, how long would it be before he found someone else who would do it?

I was headed down Liberty Avenue toward Forty Projects to pick up Tanisha. Believe it or not, I was kinda excited about taking her to the poetry theater and dinner. She wasn’t like the girls I usually dated from the church. She kind of reminded me of a female version of my best friend Shorty. She had a directness about her that I liked. Oh, don’t get me wrong. Those church girls aren’t exactly angels, either. Most of them are pretty bold, too, in their own way. Just look at my ex, Anita. But what I liked about Tanisha was that she didn’t try to hide her wildness behind closed doors by acting prudish and virginal. After all the fraud perpetrated by some of these church girls, Tanisha’s directness was appealing. And with that body of hers, I could see us having some good times a few weeks down the road once we got to know each other.

I must admit, though, I couldn’t imagine us being together long-term. Oh, she seemed like a nice girl and all, but I couldn’t see myself bringing her home to the bishop and the first lady. The minute my mother found out Tanisha was from the projects, she’d lose her mind and make both Tanisha’s and my life miserable. Sooner or later I’d have to settle down with one of those church girls, but for the time being, I was looking forward to getting to know Tanisha. She was definitely going to be a welcome distraction from my feelings for Anita.

When I was about three blocks from Tanisha’s building, my phone started ringing. I looked at the caller ID and saw the number to my house. I answered on the third ring and was greeted by the troubled sound of my mother’s voice.

“Dante. Have you seen your sister?”

“Nah, I haven’t seen her since this morning. Why, is something wrong? She didn’t have another accident, did she?” I crossed my fingers.

“No, not that I know of, but Anita Emerson just called. Your sister was supposed to open up the church recreation hall and help the Emersons run tonight’s Bingo game, but she never showed up. I tried calling her cell phone, but she’s not answering. She’s probably out with them ghetto hooligans she calls friends.”

Or getting laid by her mystery boyfriend
, I thought.

“She probably just forgot today was Bingo night, Ma.” I was starting to get a bad feeling about this call.

“Nonetheless, I need you to go over to the church and take care of things.”

“But Ma, I’m on my way to pick someone up. I’ve got a date tonight. I can’t cancel this late. She’ll never go out with me again.”

“Well, I’m sure whoever she is won’t mind spending a few hours at the church helping you run the Bingo game.” No doubt my mother assumed my date was with some member of the church. She was so determined to marry me off to one of those church girls that I don’t think it ever crossed her mind that I might be attracted to someone who didn’t worship at First Jamaica Ministries.

“Ma, can’t you get someone else to do this? Why don’t you and the bishop go over there? You know how he likes to call the numbers.”

“Your father and I have some other business we have to take care of tonight. We need you to take care of this, Dante. There is no one else we can call.”

“What about Reverend Reynolds?” I was still trying to talk my way out of it. The last thing I wanted to do was cancel my date with Tanisha in order to spend three hours with Anita and her husband.

“I couldn’t get in touch with him.”

“Well, I’m sorry, Ma, but I can’t do it.”

“Dante, you are the director of church activities. When these things happen, you’re supposed to be there to pick up the slack. You have a responsibility. How do you expect to become pastor one day if you can’t handle being director? I’m sorry, but this is your job. If this young lady doesn’t understand that, then she’s not worth it. Now you get your behind over to the church and open up the recreation hall. Bingo starts at seven-thirty sharp and I’m counting on you.” She hung up without waiting for my reply.

I folded my cell phone just as I pulled up in front of Tanisha’s building. I turned off my truck and stared at the entrance. Now what was I going to do? There was no way I was going to ask a girl like Tanisha to go to the church with me. She’d probably laugh me out her house. I thought about just leaving. I mean, she was a nice girl with a terrific body, but it wasn’t like she was Tyra Banks or anything. Besides, she didn’t have my number or my last name. She also didn’t go to our church, so the chances of me running into her again weren’t that great. I started the truck and slid the shift into drive, but my conscience wouldn’t let me put my foot on the gas. I owed her an explanation; whether she was cool with it or not was up to her. At least I’d know I’d done my part. So I sat there another two minutes then willed myself to get out of the truck.

Once I got in the building, it took no time to find Apartment L. I knocked on the door. A few seconds later a scarecrow-thin woman who looked like she hadn’t combed her hair in about two weeks answered. She was scratching her arms like she had fleas or something. I was sure I was at the wrong apartment. In fact, I must have gone into the wrong building, because this was obviously a crack spot.

“What you want?” the woman asked. She was still scratching her arms.

“I’m sorry. I think I have the wrong apartment. I was looking for Tanisha.”

I took a step back, preparing to leave until she said, “She’s here. Come on in. I’ll get her.” In between her scratching, the woman gestured for me to come in, then turned toward the back of the apartment and screamed, “Tanisha! Somebody here to see you!”

I followed her into the apartment and felt like I was in another world. It was what my mother would call a well-kept mess. There was stuff everywhere, but you could also see where someone had tried to straighten up and keep the place neat. From the looks of the woman in front of me, I figured that must have been Tanisha.

“You can sit down,” the woman told me. She was back to her scratching and it was starting to make me feel like I had an itch too. She ran over to the couch and scooped up a handful of clothes to clear a spot, then she gestured for me to sit down. She called for Tanisha again at the top of her lungs, as if the apartment were the size of a mansion.

“I’m coming,” I heard Tanisha shout from behind a closed door.

By the time I walked over and sat down, the woman had scooped up another pile of clothes and was sitting next to me, still scratching. I figured if she wasn’t going to introduce herself, I might as well.

“How you doing? I’m Dante.” I offered her my hand and she stopped scratching long enough to shake it.

“My name’s Marlene. I’m Tanisha’s mother.” She was so bony I felt like I was shaking the hand of a skeleton.

“Nice to meet you, Marlene.” As soon as I let go of her hand, she was back to scratching her arm again, and now I was scratching right along with her. It was like that shit was contagious.

“Hey, Dante, you got a cigarette?”

“Sorry, I don’t smoke.”

“Think you could loan me five dollars so I can get a pack?”

“I’m sorry, Marlene, but I don’t have any cash on me. I was planning on going to the ATM when I left here,” I lied. I didn’t mind loaning her money for cigarettes, but I was afraid she might use it to buy something stronger.

“So bring me a pack of Newports when you come back, and I’ll let y’all use my room.” She smiled and I had to look away so I wouldn’t gasp. That woman didn’t have but one tooth in her entire mouth.

“I’ll see what I can do.”

“Okay, and bring me back a doggie bag. Y’all are going out to eat, ain’t you?”

“We were supposed to, but—”

“But what? You taking me somewhere else instead?”

I recognized Tanisha’s voice right away, but when I looked up, I damn sure didn’t recognize the woman standing in front of me. She bore a resemblance to the woman in the baggy sweats I had met the day before, but if this was Tanisha, she must have gone on that show
Extreme Makeovers.
The woman standing in front of me was so fine she looked like she should have been on a rap video. She had these tight, baby blue low-rise jeans on with a matching jean jacket. Under the jacket she was wearing a thin white halter that didn’t leave anything to the imagination. And that was just her outfit.

Her hair was hooked up in a curly brown style that fell down to her shoulders, accented by a baby blue Kangol that was cocked to the side. All this was accessorized with a pair of blue-tinted sunglasses, freshly manicured nails, and a pair of blue boots that made her a full three inches taller. She was looking so good I was glad I was wearing baggy pants, because my little head immediately took over for my big one, and he was telling me,
The hell with Bingo! We need to take her to dinner and a hotel.

“Tanisha?”

I must have sounded unsure, because she looked at me like I was stupid and said, “Yeah, were you expecting someone else?”

“No, I just didn’t expect for you to look this goo—I mean, you look damn good.”

She rolled her eyes at my foolishness. “Thanks, I think.”

I was relieved that my phone rang so I could get my foot out of my mouth, but then I realized it was probably my mother calling back to nag some more about my Bingo obligations.

“Aren’t you gonna answer it?”

I sighed then nodded. “Hello?”

“Dante, where are you?” It wasn’t my mother. It was Anita. “Your mother said you were going to be here ten minutes ago. There are over a hundred people out here waiting to get into the rec hall.” I was brought back to reality and my little head relinquished control to my big head.

“I’m coming, Anita. I had to make a stop first. I’ll be there in five minutes.” I hung up the phone and looked at Tanisha with a frown.

“I hope Anita works at the poetry theater.” Tanisha was glaring at me over the top of her blue-tinted glasses.

“Well, not exactly.”

She jumped in before I could explain. “What do you mean not exactly?” I could hear the disappointment in her voice, but I was sure that was going to turn into B.W.A.—Black Woman’s Attitude—at any moment.

“Tanisha, I’m sorry, but I have to cancel our date.”

All the expression left her face as she leaned back in an Oh-no-you-didn’t-just-cancel-our-date pose. “What? I don’t wanna hear that shit. You mean to tell me I spent all day getting ready for nothing? Do you know how long it took me to put this weave in my head?”

“Look, Tanisha, I’m sorry. You see—”

She cut me off again. “You know what, Dante? You’re full of shit.” She took her sunglasses off. She was no longer disappointed. Now I could see anger in her eyes.

“I’m sorry. But it’s not my fault.”

“Whose fault is it?” She was starting to raise her voice.

“Tanisha, calm down for a minute and let him explain,” her mother chimed in. I’d completely forgotten she was there until just then, although I was grateful, because Tanisha looked like she wanted to pluck my eyeballs out.

Tanisha folded her arms. “Okay, I’m listening. Why can’t you go?”

“Something came up and I gotta work.”

She uncrossed her arms and pointed a finger in my face.

“Do I look stupid to you? Do I look like I have
Tanisha’s a stupid bitch
written all over my face?” she spat.

“No, but—”

“Then why the fuck you tryin’ to play me?” she yelled.

“I’m not trying to play you. I really gotta go to work.” I turned to her mother for some help, but she looked just as skeptical as her daughter.

“So I guess you work with this Anita, right?” Tanisha asked, giving me a look that told me she wasn’t going to believe whatever answer I gave her.

“Uh-huh. Yeah, I work with her.”

She sucked her teeth, then rolled her eyes as she walked over to the door. “You are such a fucking liar.”

I stood up. “I’m not lying, Tanisha. I swear to God. If you want, you can come to the church with me.”

Both Tanisha and her mother started laughing. “Church? Now I’ve heard everything. You niggas be coming up with some of the corniest shit. What are you, the preacher?”

I was about to tell her I was the preacher’s son, but instead I just gave her the basics. “No, I’m supposed to be running the Bingo game tonight.”

She and her mother laughed even harder than the first time. “Yeah, you running game, all right. ’Cept it’s not even good game.”

Tanisha opened the door, glanced at me, then looked outside to the hall. I took her hint and walked toward the open door, stopping at the threshold. I decided to give it one last-ditch effort.

“I’m not lying, Tanisha. If you don’t believe me, you can come by First Jamaica Ministries on Merrick. I’ll be there all night.”

“I ain’t going nowhere looking for you. Now get out my house.”

As I stepped past her to exit the apartment, she put a hand on my shoulder. I turned to face her and she said, “You know what, Dante? I wish you had never paid for my groceries.” She reached in her pocket and pulled out some money, forcing it in my hand. “I hope you have fun with Anita, but believe me, it won’t be as much fun as you could have had with me.”

“Tanisha…” I looked in her face and she raised her hand as if she was about to smack me. I ducked out of the way just in case she swung. That’s when I knew it was time to get out of there. She was about to take things to the next level and the last thing I needed was to wind up in jail for fighting a woman. I walked out the door without another word.