Separating Riches (19 page)

I put away my laptop and stretched out on the hotel bed. Now it was time to put the case aside and call my wife. It was so hard to go on away missions without her, especially when it came to sleeping alone. I pulled out my cellphone and tapped in the numbers, but her voicemail picked up.

“Hey, sweetie. I’m missing you pretty bad, so give me a call as soon as you can.” I clicked on the end button and laid my cellphone on my stomach. Leaning back against the pillows, my hands linked behind my head, I let my mind drift back to our honeymoon at the Ashford Castle, in Galway, Ireland. At first, we didn’t leave the room, but finally, we felt that since Chris went to the trouble to send us there, we should probably get out and explore the Emerald Isle. But at night, we rushed back to the hotel and explored each other.
Oh, the memories.

My phone rang, and I bolted upright, grabbing it and hitting the accept button. “Hey, sweetie,” I said, my smile instantaneous.

“When are you coming home?” she asked.

“Ah, baby, I wish I was there now,” I replied. “But it’s going to be a few more days. Are you finished with your case yet?”

Frankie and I sometimes worked on different cases, but we always ended the day in bed together. Now, for the first time since I married her last year, we were sleeping in separate beds.

“Yes, I’m finished with my case. Why aren’t you?” she joked, with an undertone of complaint.

“So, do you have another case waiting?” I asked.

“Just working on the scholarship backgrounds for Chris and Blackie,” she replied.

“Good, then why don’t you take the next few days off and come to me? My bed is cold and I don’t like it one bit.”

“Oh, well if it’s just the warmth of the bed you’re worried about, I’ll send you a heating pad,” she teased.

“No heating pad can take the place of you, honey, and you know it. Come on, what do you say?”

“I need to be with you too, darling. I’ll catch a flight out first thing in the morning,” she replied.

“I won’t sleep a wink until I see you again,” I boasted.

“Meg, lay back and close your eyes for me,” she said so sweetly.

“Yes, dear.” I laid back on the pillows, placing the phone on speaker.

My wife, my beautiful, sophisticated wife, began to sing a French melody to me in a raspy, deep voice, and I could hear the magnetism in her singing. I wanted her so bad at that moment. When she talks French to me, I’m like Gomez on that old television show,
The Addams Family
, instantly hot and needing to kiss her all over.

“
Mon cher
,” I cooed, when she finished singing. “I want to kiss every inch of you right now.”

“Hold that thought,” she said. “
Jusqu'à demain, mon amour.
”

“Until tomorrow, my love,” I repeated in English.

We’re All Back Together Again — Chris,
Melinda, Norma, George,
and
Staff

Melinda was still asleep, the sheets tangled around her picturesque body. What a wondrous night we had together. She really wanted to make things up to me, even though I assured her I didn’t believe it was her fault. I think she was afraid I’d keep seeing that other woman. And she was right, I did for a very short period of time, like right after I made her scream in climax. After that all I could think about was making up for the time we’d lost. We were so relieved to be back together again that we abandoned our inhibitions in an effort to consume one another. At one point, with both of us nude, Melinda chased me through the halls and down into the living room, through the dining room, the kitchen, and into the game room where we made love on the pool table. It was my idea, Melinda didn’t want to do it. But if I could see her with her head between
my
breasts, I knew that I could replace the memory of that other woman. I wouldn’t be able to forget, but I could give myself something else to envision. I’m not sure what time that was, but I don’t remember seeing anyone during the great chase, although I was too consumed with lust to have noticed. 

Lethargic from lack of sleep, I showered, dried my hair and pulled on a pair of stone washed jeans and picked out a spring blouse to reflect my mood. I still looked a bit ragged from our night of intense love making, but I didn’t think anyone would notice. Kissing my sleeping beauty on the forehead, I told her I would be downstairs as she stirred. She mumbled okay and went back to sleep. There’s an empowering feeling of confidence and strength when I look at Melinda. Last night I declared her mine. Her lips are mine. Her eyes, her hair, her sculpted body, her sex, all of it is mine. And last night, for the first time since I met her, I gave over everything that I am to her. Every part of me was hers. Even the dark recesses of my mind will be open to her, if she wants it. But I think perhaps we should find out why someone is setting her up first, before we face more of my demons. I don’t even want to go there right now, not when I just got Melinda back.

One last glance at my wife, and I walked down stairs and over to the dining room. As usual, Norma and George had already finished their breakfast, and George was reading the entertainment section of the newspaper, while Norma was sipping her coffee. If I didn’t know better, I’d swear they were a married couple.

“Good morning,” I said gleefully, and walked over and kissed Norma on the cheek.

“Good morning, dear,” Norma replied. “You look positively radiant this morning. There’s nothing like a little exercise to put some color in your cheeks.”

I blushed.
Oh my God! Did she see us?
“Well, um, no, that’s what a good night’s sleep will do for you.”

George looked up from his newspaper. “Uh-huh,” he grunted knowingly.
No, not George too!

I laughed nervously and walked over to the buffet table. Konani walked in carrying a tray with Charlotte following behind her carrying a fresh pot of coffee.

“Here, Ms. Chris,” Konani said. “I made this special for you and Ms. Melinda.”

She lifted the lid off a plate of crispy French toast with crushed pineapple jam lathered on top. The plate was garnished with strawberries, bananas and blueberries, with toasted coconut and a chocolate sauce drizzled across the fruits.
Heaven!

My mouth watered and my stomach growled. It had been over twenty-four hours since I had eaten and I was completely ravenous. “That looks wonderful, thank you so much, Konani,” I said, lifting the plate from the tray. “What’s the special occasion?”

“Oh, um. No reason. I’m just in a good mood this morning,” she replied.

“Me, too, Konani,” I said.

Konani blushed. She set Melinda’s covered plate on the table and hurried out of the room.

“What was that about?” I asked Norma, as Charlotte turned my cup over and poured coffee into it.

“She was worried for you, dear. For you and Melinda,” Norma answered.

I looked at Norma and over at Charlotte, who was too professional to say anything, but she nodded her head slightly.

“That is so sweet of her,” I said. “I forget sometimes that what I do can affect others who are dependent on me for a paycheck.”

“It’s not just that, dear,” Norma stated.

“It’s not?” I was confused, but then, I was still tired from the sexual exertion throughout the night, so my mind was pretty sluggish this morning. I took a sip of coffee hoping that would help.

“No, ma’am,” Kate said, walking in on our conversation, followed by Baylee-Ann, the maid.

“It’s because you are our family now, and it’s important to us, your staff, that you are happy.”

“I reckon she’s right, y’all deserve to be happy,” Baylee-Ann chimed in with her deep Southern accent.

“That is the sweetest thing to say,” I said, wiping the moisture from my eye.

Charlotte walked over to George and as she refilled his cup, she looked at me and nodded.

“Damn.” Melinda stood in the doorway, scratching her head. “What did I miss?”

“That we have the best staff anywhere,” I gushed.

“Well, I know that already. I handpicked them myself,” Melinda bragged.

“Excuse me? I believe I was there also,” I countered.

“As was I, dear,” Norma added. “Well, I was there for Charlotte at least.”

Charlotte smiled at Norma.

“See, that’s just what I mean,” Kate interjected. “Like a real family.”

“Speaking of family, Kate,” I said. “You’re flying home today, aren’t you?”

I knew it was probably past time that she went home to be with her baby, but she was so reluctant to go, so I thought that perhaps now was a good time to approach her about moving in with us.

“I don’t have to, if you need me here?” she said almost pleadingly.

I looked at Melinda and then at Norma and nodded.

“Kate,” Melinda said. “Chris, Norma and I have something that we want you to consider,”

She looked at me to continue, but I thought since it was Norma’s idea, she should be the one to ask.

“Norma, want to do the honors?” I asked.

“Oh, yes, thank you, dear,” Norma replied, and then stood up. “Kate, the three of us would like for you to move into the mansion with us in Memphis. You and the baby will have your own room and the best part is, you can bring your baby to work with you.”

Kate’s eyes turned to liquid, and she slumped down in the nearest chair. I couldn’t tell if she was happy about our offer or not.

“Oh, my, God. I just won the lottery!” she exclaimed.

We all laughed. Yes, she was happy with our offer. I glanced over at Charlotte, who quickly turned away, wiping a tear from her uber-professional eyes.

“Uh, does that mean you’ll move in?” Melinda asked.

Kate muted her celebration and cautiously asked, “Are you sure, Blackie? I mean, I know your, um, concerns with babies.”

Again I laughed. What a polite way of saying that babies scare the shit out of Melinda.

Melinda laughed also. “Yeah, I’m sure, and don’t worry, I’ll make sure that I don’t get in the way when you change his diapers.”

Kate laughed and clapped her hands together. “I don’t know what to say. You all are so wonderful.”

“Yes, I know, but does that mean you’ll move in?” Melinda repeated.

“Absolutely! What a blessing you have been to me,” Kate cried.

“Good deal,” Melinda replied, satisfied with her answer.

“So book yourself a flight home today,” I instructed. “Then when you’re ready, hire movers to move you in. However, I want you living in that house before we get back.”

“I won’t need movers, Chris. I only have the baby’s toys that you bought for him, and some clothes and a few knickknacks.”

“Are you sure?” I asked, and she nodded. “Okay, well, take your pick of one of the guest rooms.”

Shaking her head, Melinda said, “But not the ones on Chris’ and my floor, all right?”

Kate laughed. “Okay, as far away from Blackie’s bedroom as I can get. Got it.”

“Whew,” Melinda exhaled. “Thanks.”

“And, Ms. Norma, I won’t use the bedrooms on your floor either. I don’t want anyone to regret making this fantastic offer.”

“Thank you, dear,” Norma said. “I think we will all be very happy together, and I for one can’t wait to change a diaper again.”

Melinda looked like she had just seen a diaper full of poop, and I put my hands to my cheeks to cover the flush of happy tears rushing to my eyes.
I am so bless. Thank you, Jesus.

You Want Her to Do What? — Meg,
Chris
and
Melinda

Charlotte announced my arrival, and I said hello to everyone. Then I asked Chrissie and Blackie if I could speak with them alone. I needed Blackie to do something that Chrissie was not going to like. Not now that she had just reconciled herself with what she saw between Blackie and Tori. We went into the empty living room and Chrissie closed the door behind us.

“Chrissie, I need to borrow your wife for a few hours this afternoon,” I stated without preamble.

“Oh… um, sure. Of course,” she replied. “I’d like to go with you, if that’s okay?”

“Let me tell you what I have planned and you tell me if you still want to be there for that. We’re going to stake out the pizza joint and when Blackie sees Tori, or I see her friends, we’re going to go question them.”

“You already questioned her friends, what’s the point of doing it again?” Blackie asked.

“Because this time you will ask her friends where Tori lives, because you want to hook up with her again. And if Tori comes in, I want you to play it up like…, and I’m sorry about this Chrissie, but Blackie should play it up like she enjoyed that little tête-à-tête and wants more.”

Chris gasped. “No. Absolutely not!”

Blackie looked at me and shrugged. She was not going to go against Chrissie, no matter what. Not that I blamed her, but it left me confused.

“Do you want me to close the case then? Because that’s the only way I’m going to be able to get the next lead to the reason behind the set up. Tori is involved, but I don’t think she is the brains behind it. And she is the only one who can lead us to the one who is. Something else I want you both to consider is that I think the same person set Blackie up in college. If that proves to be true, he will probably try again in a few years, if not sooner.”