I walked into the kitchen, and alas, Jeb didn’t look so jittery anymore. He had a smile plastered across his handsome face as he stood over his magnificently fragrant meal.
“Wal-ah!” he said with pride over the meal he spent the last three hours in the kitchen slaving over. “Only the best, for the best. My love, I present to you your favorite meal. Yes, believe your eyes. Chicken parmesan, a tossed Caesar salad, with my infamous Italian breadsticks. Better than Olive Garden!”
I slapped his chest flirtatiously as I let out a great big laugh from the pit of my belly. No one could make me laugh like Jeb could. He put his hand around my waist and pulled me in with his broad, beautiful shoulders and toned arms for one of his sensual kisses. I was so used to his kisses, and yet I couldn’t get enough of them. He smiled mid-kiss and whispered in my ear.
“Are you ready to eat, love, or are you ready to eat?” he asked as he motioned to the bedroom.
I couldn’t help but to snicker. “Babe!” I exclaimed with a big grin on my face. “I’m ready for both meals, of course,” I responded with a flirty smirk on my face.
Jeb laughed and kissed my neck. “Oh, trust, I’m ready for dessert already.”
We both sat down at the table, and I gasped at Jeb’s beautiful presentation. He scooted his chair closer to mine as I looked up to him in appreciation.
“Baby, I just want to thank you for the meal. I know you were feeling a little off today, but I truly cherish how you took the time out to cook for us and to spend quality time together.”
“Anything for the love of my life,” Jeb gushed.
I couldn’t take my eyes off his alluring face. I was grateful for a man like Jeb.
We dug in and began to demolish the food. After the hard day we both had, we finally were able to savor the moment until Jeb became a little skittish and removed again.
I placed my hand on his. “Is everything okay?”
“Well, yes,” he blinked down at me as if he wanted to tell me something but was hesitant. He paused for a moment and then proceeded. “I wanted to ask you if you wou—”
The doorbell rang, cutting Jeb off abruptly. We both froze, wondering who could be at our front door at this time of night. We gave each other a solemn look. We didn’t want any visitors; we just wanted to enjoy each other’s company.
The doorbell rang again and again, so I hustled to answer it, thinking it was possibly Kemara and the kids. Jeb followed closely behind once he saw the look of worry rush to my face. I opened the door and was almost blown away to see Rodney standing there with my ex-mother-in-law. Shock and awe had to be displayed on my face as I wondered what the hell they were doing there.
“Baby,” Rodney said as he leaned in to kiss my forehead just like he used to do once upon a time when we were in love and married. I quickly dodged his advance and sidestepped, almost making him stumble as I reacted with such swiftness. “Um, excuse me? Why did you do that, baby?” Rodney regained his balance and looked at me like I had antlers growing out of my head. “Didn’t you miss me?”
“Back off!” Jeb said as the expression on his face went from bewilderment to anger as his cheeks flushed red. He stepped up to Rodney as he confronted him, and Rodney was visibly confused.
“Who the hell is this? Man, you better step back from my wife before I have to put my hands on you,” Rodney responded as he marched up to meet Jeb.
“How dare you come in here like this,” Jeb said, getting even closer in Rodney’s face.
Rodney’s mother finally stepped in, preparing to speak. You would think she was amused by the entire scene with the way she had looked on without interrupting.
“Hold on, there! Everyone, let’s just all take a seat so I can explain,” uttered the lady who used to haunt me with her constant judgements and interference in me and Rodney’s marriage.
“Take a seat and explain what?!” I was beyond annoyed that the two people I wanted to see least in this world had barged in on me and Jeb’s private time. I’d rather thread a needle through the tiniest hole than to sit down with those two and have a conversation. “You can explain whatever you have to say right here, so we can get back to our night; that’s what you can do,” I said bluntly.
Rodney’s eyes glazed over with a softness I hadn’t seen in years. “Your night? Tameka, do you care to explain why my wife hasn’t come to see me in the hospital, but when I come home she’s spending the night with a honkey?” His rudeness replaced the sad, melancholy expression I thought I had seen in his eyes just moments before.
Jeb and I looked at each other and then back at Rodney’s mom, Silvia.
“Is this some sick joke?” I demanded an answer as I crossed my arms.
“Baby.” Rodney put his cold, grimy hands around my waist, and I instantly shook them off. The mere thought of his touch gave me the creeps. He backed up as if he was hurt by my response to his affection.
“Okay, Silvia, I’m going to need for you to explain, and quick. What the fuck is going on here?!” I asked.
Silvia sighed and proceeded to move out of the doorway and into the foyer. She took her time as she was a lot older since I had last seen her, and she needed to rest after Rodney’s outburst. She took it upon herself to walk into the dining room and take a seat at the table in front of the food that was now turning cold. She let out a loud sigh and proceeded.
“As you know, Rodney lost his memory. He has no recollection of the accident, nor divorcing you. But lately, it seems as if he can remember up to some point when you guys were still married. He didn’t believe me when I tried to explain that you were divorced, and for five years at that. That’s why he had to see for himself. And so, here we are,” Rodney’s mother said with the amusement one would have if they were watching a soap opera on TV.
She grabbed an empty wine glass and poured some of the Stella Mia I’d picked up at the grocery store after work into it. She gulped down the wine and glanced at Jeb and me to see how we would respond to the news.