Unspoken Words Page 8

  When Desirae knew Rosalind was long gone and on her way to work, she’d spend the afternoon after school at the Pattersons while her mom was at work. Rosalind had found part-time employment at the nursing home she volunteered at and continued volunteering in the off-hours. She enjoyed caring for the elderly and took pleasure in all she undertook for them. After taking ill one afternoon, Rosalind retired early from her shift. Feeling dizzy after vomiting violently, she mustered up as much strength that she could to make it home so she could get herself situated and make sure Desirae was all right. However, when she pulled up into her driveway, she saw Desirae sitting on the Pattersons’ front porch chatting with Naomi-Ruth.

  “Dez, what did I tell you?” Rosalind scolded her, exiting her car.

  “Mm, I—”

  “I don’t want to hear anything! You know what I told you! Get in this house!”

  Storming through the door, Desirae exploded, “Why do I have to suffer because you and Pastor don’t get along? We are the kids, and y’all act like us, not speaking to one another. This is so stupid. I—”

  Before Desirae could finish her sentence, Rosalind’s hand connected with the right side of her face. “Now, go to your room! I don’t know who you think you’re talking to, but you’re about to—”

  The balance of her lunch cut her sentence short as it spewed out, soiling the tips of her shoes and the hardwood floor beneath her.

  “That’s what she gets for hitting me,” Desirae mumbled, slamming her bedroom door shut.

  She knew because Rosalind wasn’t feeling well, she would get away with slamming the door. Had it been any other time, she would have felt whatever the hinges of the door frame might feel when a door is shut hard.

  “Consider yourself on punishment,” Rosalind threatened from the other side of the door in passing.

  Because Naomi-Ruth had begged Desirae to come over and ignore Rosalind’s orders, she was livid with Naomi-Ruth. When they entered school the next morning, Desirae lit into Naomi-Ruth.

  “It’s your fault I’m on punishment. Your parents think they are better than my mom, and that’s why you can’t come over,” Desirae barked.

  “You know that’s not true, Dez. Now, take it back.”

  “I thought about it last night, and it is true. That’s the only reason your father said you couldn’t come over. I don’t know why I listened to you. You’re a fake friend, church girl.”

  “Don’t call me that, Dez. You know I hate when people call me that.”

  “I’m not taking anything back. It’s the truth, little church girl.”

  “That’s it.” Naomi-Ruth dropped her books, charged Desirae, and shoved her into the lockers along the wall.

  Within moments, the two friends who’d been inseparable and tied at the hip were rolling on the floor, kicking, punching, and pulling each other’s hair. They were acting like they didn’t know each other.

  The Pattersons and Rosalind struggled to swallow their anger after hearing the girls had had a fistfight and had been suspended from school. Rosalind couldn’t accept Naomi-Ruth’s actions and took it out on Levi and Vera when they showed up at the school following the altercation.

  “Excuse me. Can I speak to you before we go inside?”

  “Sure,” Levi responded.

  “What kind of preacher are you? Your daughter struck my child because of name-calling. But I am not surprised because when situations don’t go your way, you assault as well. This is an example that the fruit didn’t fall far from that tree.” She rolled her eyes.

  Desirae had called Rosalind in hysterics to lessen her punishment by telling her Naomi-Ruth had tackled her into the lockers.

  “I have never assaulted you, Rosalind. No weapon formed against me or my household shall prosper, and any tongue that rises against us in judgment shall be condemned. Now, if you have nothing uplifting to say, please excuse us.” He marched toward the school building with Vera on his heels.

  Each time Levi used the Word to speak to Rosalind, it troubled her as if he’d struck her because she felt like he was chastising her. As a result of this confrontation, Rosalind said she’d had enough of the Pattersons and found a condo in another part of the city in a different school district. Naomi-Ruth and Desirae never reconciled things because they didn’t see each other after the transfer. It was as if they lived in separate states because they didn’t run into each other at all.

  Desirae resented Rosalind’s decision to move after a while. She didn’t want to meet new people and start over as “the new kid.” Without question, she missed Naomi-Ruth, but she refused to make the first move and call her. Naomi-Ruth didn’t put forth any effort either. Their stubbornness forced them to grow apart over time.

  Dez started hanging around two sisters whose parents were never home, and when they were there, it was as if they weren’t. They supported their twin daughters, Monica and Monique, in living carefree lives at 16. As long as it was in the garage, they were able to smoke marijuana and drink alcohol. Their parents even permitted them to have boys over but only in the garage.

  Desirae spent time hanging out at Monica and Monique’s place while their parents were home. Rosalind trusted Desirae under their supervision without getting to know them outside of the initial introduction she’d received while grocery shopping. Omar and Latrine both worked nine-to-five jobs—the father as a maintenance director and the mother as a housekeeper by day—and their nights consisted of hosting intimate cocaine parties in their master suite.

  Latrine made sure she prepared breakfast before the girls left for school, and dinner was on the table every night. They even sat down together as a family for dinner just about every day. However, family time concluded by seven o’clock sharp in the evening on party nights. The twins weren’t aware of what their parents were involved in. They just knew they had to have their homework completed before Omar and Latrine had their “alone time.” From the outside looking in, they were upstanding parents, which they were, but they also enjoyed their “snow parties.”

  The only things Desirae was familiar with were the church and Rosalind spoiling her by taking her shopping, out to dine, or on a weekend getaway. She knew nothing about smoking or drinking. She was a virgin to all of it, including intercourse. Monica and Monique could be looked at as experts in all areas as they’d been dibbling and dabbling in everything since they were 14. Things transformed and took a turn for the worse during Desirae’s second week at the twins’ “G-room,” the name Monica and Monique had named the garage. Their dad had changed the car storage area into a hangout suite for his daughters. He’d had a restroom installed, and to accommodate his little ladies, he installed a 55-inch television, sofa, love seat, and a pool table for their enjoyment.

  Desirae’s first experience with getting drunk and high made her uneasy the first couple of minutes. She knew Rosalind would be disappointed if she ever found out, but Desirae’s mind was too far gone into her new life. Once the nervousness subsided, she started liking the pleasure that took over her. Everything was amusing, and nothing mattered any longer. Even while in the company of the three young guys, Desirae danced to the beat of her drum. She sashayed around the suite with and without music. It was her first time meeting the boys. Two of them were the twins’ boyfriends, and the third guy was their friend, Garrett.

  Without an invitation, Garrett followed Desirae to the restroom. As she attempted to close the door behind her, he used his foot to prevent it from shutting.

  “Umm, excuse your foot. I got here first. You have to wait.”

  “I just want to watch.”

  “That is nasty! Who wants to see someone use the bathroom?”

  “I don’t want to see someone. I want to see you. I like you.”

  “You don’t even know me.”

  “I know what I like, and I like what I see, and what I see is you.”

  Desirae felt weird and sought to cover her blush behind her fingers.

  “Don’t you dare hide that
pretty smile from me.” Garrett pulled her hands from her face.

  Before she could protest, he managed to make his way into the bathroom. He locked eyes with her without letting her hand loose and eased in. As if she were in a trance, Desirae backed up and followed his lead, allowing him entrance. Shame filled her as the door shut. She was unable to keep eye contact. Desirae’s gaze skittered around the room, looking at everything but him.

  “There you go again, getting bashful on me. But little do you know, it’s only going to make me like you even more. You’re nothing like your friends. You’re special, Desirae. You are special just for me. Can I have you as mine, beautiful?”

  “You cannot have any part of me until I’m married. I have to be married before I give my mind or body to someone, and I’m too young. Besides, I don’t even know you.”

  At five foot three and thick, Desirae had the body of a much-older girl. Her smooth, brown skin stretched over her large C-cup breasts, wide hips, and a juicy behind. Desirae’s pretty face complimented the package that mesmerized Garrett. Normally, she disliked the attention she received because of her figure. However, Garrett’s close-cut wavy hair, cinnamon skin, and light, dreamy eyes had her feeling tingly on the inside. She had never felt or reacted to a male’s presence or attention until Garrett’s tall, somewhat-lanky frame and baritone voice mesmerized her.

  Four years her senior, Garrett was hesitant when the twins suggested he meet their friend. However, the moment he saw Desirae, everything he believed in went out the window. He had to have her. He frowned on dating younger girls, but he knew Desirae was different.

  “Well, it looks like we’re getting married. I’m not allowing you to get away from me.”

  Garrett meant what he said in that bathroom. He waited for Desirae for two years. On her eighteenth birthday, he met her at the G-room and asked her to marry him. They spent time together almost every day before that getting to know each other outside of sex. Desirae kept Rosalind in the dark the entire time. Although she had suspicions that Desirae either had a crush or was possibly trying to get to know someone, Rosalind had no clue what was going on with her daughter and Garrett until the proposal.

  “Mom!” Desirae shouted, charging through the door, holding Garrett’s hand.

  “What is all the screaming about, girl?” Rosalind came out of the kitchen.

  “This is Garrett, Mom. We’re getting married.”

  “You’re getting what? I’m going to need your lanky ass to get the hell out of my house.” She pointed to Garrett before directing her attention back to Desirae. “Dez, have you lost your damn mind?”

  “My apologies, Miss Rosalind.”

  “Please go.” Rosalind opened the door.

  As the door shut behind Garrett, Desirae screamed, “This is what I want, Mom! I am old enough to get married without your permission.”

  “You’re not old enough to wash your tail correctly. Don’t let that boy play with your mind, and you end up making the same mistake I made.”

  “Just because you’re lonely and pathetic doesn’t mean I’ll be the same way.”

  Fury drove Rosalind to the unthinkable. Jerking her hand back, slapped Desirae’s face, causing her head to slam into the wall behind her.

  “I hate you!” Desirae shouted, running to her room and slamming the door behind her.

  Rosalind wasn’t happy with hitting Desirae. However, she didn’t regret what she did, either. In her eyes, Dez was disrespectful, and she refused to permit any form of disrespect. Instead of going behind her offspring, Rosalind gave herself and Dez space to cool off. She understood Desirae was 18, but her baby girl was still learning herself. Marriage was the last thing that should be on her mind. If Rosalind could choke Garrett, she would do just that. She shook her head in displeasure seeing that Garrett was noticeably older than Dez. After she sat down and spoke to her daughter, Rosalind planned to set Garrett in his place and press charges if she had too.

  Unfortunately, Rosalind allowed too much time to pass. She’d awaken early to prepare breakfast and have Dez come down to eat and talk, but when Rosalind went to her room to wake her . . . Desirae wasn’t there. She left during the night to be with her fiancé, Garrett.

  Chapter Twelve

  Why Did I Get Married . . . ?

  To Rosalind, Desirae was a well mannered child who gave her no problems. She wasn’t aware of Dez’s extracurricular activities that she’d indulged in at the G-room. Turning 18 gave Desirae a newfound mind-set, and love was all she cared about. But it just wasn’t any love. She wanted Garrett’s love. For the two years, she and Garrett dated, Desirae concluded she could do whatever she wanted when she turned legal. Garrett stressed the fact that he would marry her once Desirae came of age. She made sure to abide by Rosalind’s rules even when she didn’t agree with them because the only thing that mattered to Dez was being with Garrett.

  At 22, from the outside looking in, Garrett had it going on for himself. He was a college student with his own car and apartment and a part-time job as a cabin service cleaner for an airline, where he worked at night. However, already under the same roof and now attending the same college as her husband, Desirae found out proof of the pudding was in the eating. Garrett’s apartment was in the basement of his mother’s home, and his car and insurance were in her name. The only things Desirae didn’t find conflict with was the fact that Garrett attended class and faithfully went to work. Since they’d married, he had picked up more hours at work. At least, that’s what he had told her why he’d been away from home so much.

  After whisking away Desirae in the night, they went to the courthouse and eloped. He was delighted to bring his bride home after longing for her for two years. Garrett attempted to take Desirae the moment he carried her across the threshold. Although Dez now saw a grown woman looking back at her, the coy and reserved girl Rosalind gave birth to manifested. As Garrett sought to become one with his wife, Desirae’s insecurities frustrated him.

  “Dezzy, baby, I promise to be gentle, so please try to relax. I know this is your first time, but I waited so long for this.”

  “Is this the only thing you waited for?” She tightened her grip on the towel, covering her nudity.

  “We just got married, so why would I have married you just for sex? That doesn’t make sense, does it?”

  While dating, Garrett had never made it past second base. Kissing, groping, and petting were all that had taken place. And that had only happened when they were fully clothed. Desirae pushed Garrett’s hands off of her when he attempted any actual skin-to-skin contact in her private areas.

  “I know I’m just nervous.”

  Garrett pulled her closer to him, and Desirae’s nerves caused her hand to tremble, and her towel dropped. Before he could admire his wife, she ran into the bathroom and locked the door behind her.

  “Dezzy, what are you doing in there? Open the door! This marriage won’t work if you act like you’re still 16. You’re a woman now, and it’s time for you to act like one.”

  “I need more time. Please give me tonight to get myself together. Everything is happening too fast,” she sniffled from the other side of the door.

  “This is crazy as hell. We’ve been at this for hours. The damn day is gone. I need air. I’ll be back later.” Garrett grabbed his clothes from the floor.

  Hearing the door close behind him, Desirae came out of the bathroom. Her nerves got the best of her, causing her mind to race. Parts of her wanted to go back home to her room, where she felt safe, and the other side of her mind had convinced her she wasn’t little Dez any longer. With that, she straightened up Garrett’s one-bedroom apartment and searched the refrigerator, hoping to make it up to him by having breakfast prepared in the morning. She wanted to be asleep by the time he returned and to rise before he woke.

  As Desirae wished, Garrett was on the sofa asleep when she rose from her slumber. She attempted to carry out her plan and make it up to her husband and prepare breakfast. Unfortunately,
Rosalind had made cooking look easy and may have sheltered Desirae a bit too much because the smell of smoke woke Garrett instead of the eggs she attempted to prepare.

  “What in the world are you trying to do? You want us to get kicked out? My mom doesn’t even know you’re down here, for God’s sake.”

  “I wanted to surprise you. I’m sorry.” Her lips trembled.

  “Just get out of the kitchen.” He shook his head.

  “Wait! Your mom doesn’t know I’m here? Is that what you said?”

  “Relax. I didn’t get a chance to tell her yet. She’s a little weird with stuff sometimes, so I have to ease this on her.”

  “Garrett, we are married. How the hell are you going to ease me on her? Why didn’t she know before I moved in or before we got married?”

  “The same reason you kept me a secret from your mother,” he snapped.

  “I’m sure she hears us down here by now, especially since you’re not using your inside voice. So, why don’t we go talk to her now?”

  “No, we will do it on my terms, not yours. I am the man of this house, and we will do what I say. Besides, she’s used to women being down here, so that won’t alarm her. The fact that we’re married and you’ve moved in is the hard part.”

  “Wait. She’s used to women being down here? What is that supposed to mean, Garrett?”

  “It means the only virgin standing in this apartment is you.”

  That was the first of many disagreements that the newlyweds had. If it wasn’t Desirae’s insecurities when it came to sex, it was her not being able to cook, or the women that came by unannounced. After a while, Garrett gave up on trying to have sex with Desirae because he felt there was always one excuse after another. He regretted his decision to wait for or marry her, and they grew apart over time. Garrett spent a great deal of time away from home and covered it up with work. He no longer desired Desirae and sought comfort in other women. They were women he’d spent time with while he and Desirae dated. The straw that broke the camel’s back for both of them was the day his mom, Alina, met her son’s wife.