He Was Marking You. . .
The theme was “A Winter Wonderland Christmas,” and because a light snow had already blanketed the ground, it was the perfect scene for Victoria's holiday party. Her house was illuminated with dozens of white pillar and tea light candles. Intricately designed crystal snowflakes accented the fireplace mantel, while white wicker baskets filled with snow-dusted pinecones sat in the corners of each room. The large vase of white tulips on the buffet table gave way to the delicious holiday spread that Victoria had prepared. And the crowning touch was the nine-foot Frazier fir she'd decorated with vintage ornaments, handed down to her by her mother.
The house was full of family, friends, and good food. Everyone was enjoying John Small's secret-recipe eggnog, spiked so strong it could ignite if placed close enough to an open flame. Victoria was glad to have her parents in town for the holidays. They had been there since the YFI fundraiser last week, and had proven to be holistic medicine to their daughter's soul. Having them around was a source of comfort, especially since her frequent arguments with Parker were starting to depress her. Victoria knew it was a result of the pressure surrounding their upcoming six-month separation. They found themselves bickering about little things, from coordinating their work schedules to how long they would stay in DC when they went to visit his family in a few days. But their most heated exchanges centered around Ted Thornton.
After the YFI fund-raiser, Ted had arranged to have lunch with Victoria's father while he was in town. The two dined at the Ritz Carlton, where Ted was living until he closed on his new house. They'd spent over two hours discussing everything from the ups and downs of running a company, to the handicap of their golf game. When Parker found out about their lunch he was furious.
“Why did that sonofabitch have lunch with your father?” he'd fumed.
“It was more of a business meeting. Ted told me that Daddy gave him some sound financial advice.”
“With all the bankers in this city, why was it suddenly imperative that he meet with your father to discuss financial management?”
“You've known since Thanksgiving that my parents were going to be here for this entire week. But you never once asked Daddy to have lunch or dinner, so why are you upset that someone else did? Especially since it was just business!” Victoria shot back.
“Baby . . . don't you see what's happening? He can't wait until I leave so he can make a move. I see it in his eyes.”
Initially, Victoria had reservations about even inviting Ted to her party, not knowing how Parker would react. But it was the holidays, he was her friend, and she wanted him there. She was sitting in the living room talking with her parents, Ted, and a few neighbors when Parker entered the room. “Who wants in on a friendly game of poker?” he asked, zeroing in on Ted.
Elizabeth looked at the two men, then at her daughter. She leaned over and whispered into Victoria's ear. “Sweetheart, I think you have your work cut out for you tonight.”
Up until now the evening had gone smoothly. Victoria's only worry was the scene brewing in the den. Tyler, Phil, Ted and Parker were engaged in what had turned into a not-so-friendly game of poker. Victoria and Denise eased into the room to watch. The testosterone in the air was so thick that Victoria could feel hair growing on her chest just standing in their presence.
Tyler and Phil cashed out and the game had come down to Parker and Ted. At this point, several people had gathered around to observe the card duel. Parker reached his hand out for Victoria and she came to his side. “She's my good luck charm,” he smiled at Ted.
Ted didn't move a muscle. He wanted to come across the table and punch Parker in the nose, but instead, he sized up his hand. It killed him to see Victoria with this man, but for now, he knew all he could do was receive the blows as they came. They played their final hand. After all the cards were on the table, Parker was the victor. He stacked his cards neatly to the side. “I guess that old saying is true,” he grinned.
“Oh . . . what's that?” Ted tried his best to appear unfazed. He hated losing at anything.
“Bet on
black
and you'll win every time.”
Ted had a retort for that comment, but he held it back.
Victoria had had enough. “It's time to bring out more hors d'oeuvres,” she said, hurrying off to the kitchen. Denise and Tyler followed in tow.
Victoria took the extra pitcher of eggnog out of the refrigerator and poured herself a glass, gulping it down like spring water. Denise had to pull the glass away from her lips. “Whoa, girlfriend, slow down. That stuff is potent!”
“Yeah, and I need it to get through this night. Parker's driving me crazy. Did you hear that smart-ass remark he made?”
“He should've just pissed around you,” Tyler said.
“
What
?” Victoria glared, hands on her hips.
“He's right,” Denise jumped in. “He was marking you like dogs mark their territory.”
Victoria threw Tyler an annoyed look. “You talk a lot of shit, you know that?”
“Girlfriend, at least he's honest and he'll tell you the truth.”
“I know. But it's just that these are the holidays, my favorite time of year. I shouldn't be stressed like this!”
“Speaking of stress, when do you leave for DC?” Denise asked.
“Four days and counting. I want to come back the day after Christmas, but Parker wants to stay longer.”
“Let him,” Tyler jumped in. “He can stay and you can come back early. Just change your ticket.”
“But we want to spend as much time together as we can before he leaves,” Victoria whined. Denise and Tyler looked at each other, rolling their eyes with a look that said,
Why?
“And don't say anything smart,” Victoria continued, “I guess he's just upset about having to leave soon, and so am I. We're both on edge.”
“Is everything okay in here?” Juliet chirped, entering the room.
“We're consoling our dear friend,” Denise said with a heavy sigh.
Juliet crossed her arms and shook her head. “Parker and Ted troubles?”
“You got it,” Tyler nodded
“Don't worry, Victoria,” Juliet said, “your problems will soon be solved. I was walking by and I heard Parker on his cell phone talking to someone at the hospital; he's got to go in. And I think Ted has more than he can handle. Gigi was on him like stink on shit when I passed them in the den.”
Denise wrinkled her nose. “I know you all are friends, but I wouldn't trust that one with the Pope, let alone my man.”
Victoria walked up to her bedroom and found Parker getting his coat out of her closet. “You're leaving?” she asked.
“Yeah, I just got paged. I was headed back downstairs to tell you. I'm sorry baby, but duty calls.”
Victoria was actually glad he was leaving. It was too much stress having him and Ted under the same roof. She walked him to his car out back and felt guilty about breathing a sigh of relief after he'd gone.
The snow had started falling in thick, heavy flakes, prompting the partygoers to head home. Victoria walked her last guest out, then came back in and searched for Ted. He and Gigi were seated at the breakfast table in the back of the kitchen.
Why are they tucked away in here?
Victoria said to herself as she entered the room.
Gigi's chair was pulled close to Ted's. She was in rare form tonight and her tight, leather mini-dress had captured the attention of nearly every man at the party. She ran her fingers through her free-flowing hair, coming on to Ted with no shame. Victoria saw the determined flash in her friend's eyes which meant only one thingâshe had no intention of letting her prey elude her grasp this time.
“There you two are. I thought you'd both left already,” she lied, trying to smile as if their presence together didn't bother her.
Victoria forced herself to smile as she walked over to the sink and started loading the dishwasher.
Gigi tried to spark a flame, but Ted acted as though his pilot light had burned out. He hadn't responded to her overtures last week, and tonight he still seemed unaffected by her charms. Finally, Gigi decided to give up. “Ted, it was good seeing you again. Maybe I'll see you around sometime,” she fawned, giving her seductive powers one last try. Ted stood and gave her a cordial good-bye hug, careful not to touch anything critical. With that move, he'd successfully extinguished the vixen's last bit of hope. Victoria was uneasy when she saw their embrace, but was glad that Gigi was on her way out.
Gigi walked up to Victoria and gave her a warm hug. “Girl, this was a great party, as usual. I'm so glad we're back in touch.”
“Thanks, Gigi, me too.” Victoria hugged her back, feeling silly for being jealous of her friend, again knowing she had no right to those feelings.
Gigi whispered into Victoria's ear. “Juliet told me that you used to think Ted was gay. Well, I don't know about all that, but something's definitely wrong with him. I pulled out the big guns and he didn't budge. No man in his right mind refuses Gigi,” she quipped.
After walking Gigi out, Ted was Victoria's lone remaining guest. They sat on her sofa, falling into relaxed conversation as they usually did. Victoria wanted him to stay but knew it was probably best that he leave because their stares were beginning to linger a little too long. Finally, she walked him to the door. She was startled when he reached for her, bringing her into his arms for an embrace. “Good night,” he said, holding her in a lingering hug.
Victoria closed her eyes, enjoying the woodsy smell of his cologne and the feel of his arms around her back. She couldn't trust what might happen next, so she pulled away. Reluctantly, he let her go. “Drive safe,” she said before closing the door.
That night Victoria tossed and turned in her bed. It was no use in denying it any longer. For months she'd dismissed her friends' assertions, and her own feelings. But after being in Ted's arms and feeling the rush it brought, she knew that all she could do was pray. “Be careful what you ask for, you just might get it,” she said aloud. She thought about the talk she'd had with God several months ago. She'd asked him to send her a good man, and he'd sent her two. As she drifted off to sleep, she vowed to never ask for too much, ever again.
Just Say It . . .
Christmas at the Brightwoods' house was festive. Their large, stately home was decorated in full holiday grandeur from the bright, clear-colored lights framing their front door, to the beautifully decorated blue spruce in the living room. The Brightwoods lived in northwest DC's Gold Coast community, known for its beautiful homes and affluent residents. Victoria was glad to see how happy Parker was to be with his family. Their bond was close on both sides; she secretly envied him that.
When Fred and Dorothy Brightwood welcomed Victoria into their home, she could feel the inspecting eyes of Parker's father and the disapproving ones of his mother. Fred Brightwood was a tall, handsome gentleman with a head full of curly salt-and-pepper hair. He was proof of where the Brightwood men inherited their sex appeal and charm. Dorothy Brightwood was a large-bodied woman, who, in Victoria's estimation, could stand to lose a good fifty pounds or more. But her sophisticated comportment and stylish flair was a cross between Lena Horne and Nancy Wilson, making her a striking woman just the same. Still, almost immediately, Victoria could sense that her man's mother didn't like her.
Dorothy was incredulous when she discovered that Victoria didn't belong to a sorority, but forgave her when she learned that Elizabeth was a fellow soror. She dug into Victoria's family background, and from the questions she posed, it was evident she'd done her homework. She was pleased that Victoria wasn't first-generation educated or second-generation wealthy. The only piece of the puzzle she hadn't been able to figure out was how John's father had come into his money. When Victoria told her that it was by way of tobacco farming, and in South Carolina no less, Dorothy looked as though someone had just urinated on her favorite Persian rug.
But his mother's attitude aside, Parker's brothers were polite and their wives and girlfriends were civil. And even though she was prepared for it, Victoria still found it amazing that they all looked like brothers and sisters. His cousin, Samantha, was the bright spot of the clan, because albeit a little on the wild side, she was genuine and warm. She'd also gone to Spelman, and she made Victoria feel relaxed with her hilariously gritty sense of humor.
All in all Victoria was handling the visit well, but she was patiently counting down the hours until the Christmas dinner would be over and she and Parker could return to their hotel room.
“Victoria, I need to talk to you for a minute,” Parker said with a serious look. He led her away from the den of merry-making relatives and out toward the sunroom in the back.
“What is it?” she asked.
“I don't know how to tell you this except to just say it. My ex, Pamela . . . well, she's coming to dinner this evening.”
“What?” Victoria asked with shock. She couldn't believe Parker had just told her that his ex-girlfriend, the one he'd almost proposed to, would be sitting at the dinner table with them.
Victoria had been curious about Pamela Presley ever since Juliet had told her about the woman several months ago. She was the only woman from Parker's past who had ever come close to getting him to the altar, and for Parker Brightwood that had been something! When Victoria had probed him about his ex, she learned that the two had grown up together, their mothers were best friends, and it had been a HUGE deal when he'd broken up with her. “Our mothers were devastated,” he'd said, “not to mention Pamela. But I had to be honest with her and with myself. You know when it's right and when it's not. She was a decent woman, just not the woman for me.”
Yes, Victoria had been curious about Pamela, but she had no desire to meet her today, and especially not on the woman's home turf. “Parker, why are you just now telling me that your ex is coming to dinner?” Victoria asked, feeling her temples begin to pulsate.
“I didn't know she was coming over. Mother just told me a few minutes ago.”
“I guess keeping secrets and last minute surprises runs in the family,” she said in a curt tone, looking at him with growing anxiety.
“Baby, that's not fair. My mother invites Pamela and her parents to our Christmas dinner every year. I kind of figured her parents might come, but I didn't think she would, especially after knowing that I was bringing you home to meet my family.”
“How do you know that she even knows I'm here?”
“Because I'm sure that Mother told her when I let her know that you'd be spending Christmas with us.”
“Are you sure your mother told her?” Victoria asked with raised brows.
“Of course I'm sureâwhy wouldn't she? Listen, baby, Pamela and I are ancient history. I'm with you, and I love you, okay?”
An hour later, Pamela and her parents arrived. Victoria wanted to gag with disgust at the way Dorothy gushed over Parker's ex, like she was visiting royalty. Victoria looked the woman up and down. Pamela was petite, and sported a short, stylish pixie cut. Her hazel eyes twinkled with delight as she looked in Parker's direction, aligning her profile so he could get a good look at her curvy figure, neatly tucked inside her cashmere sweater and wool skirt.
“Parker, dear, come and greet the Presleys,” Dorothy said with a wide grin.
To Victoria's comfort, Parker took her hand in his and walked toward the group. Pamela's disposition changed with lightning speed when she saw Victoria by his side. He hugged Pamela's mother, shook her father's hand, then reached for Pamela's. When he did, she threw her arms open, pulling him in for a big hug. “Parker, it's
sooo
good to see you,” she cooed.
“I want you all to meet my girlfriend,” Parker smiled, withdrawing from Pamela's embrace. It was clear by the surprised look on everyone's face that Madame Brightwood had not disclosed the fact that her son was bringing his new woman to meet the folks.
I knew that bitch didn't tell her,
Victoria quietly seethed.
The introduction was met with a chilly reception. But as Victoria quickly discovered, although Pamela was initially taken aback, the princess was quick on her feet. She adjusted her game, ignoring her competition, not even acknowledging Victoria's presence. “Shame on you, Parker,” she teased, “we only live two blocks from each other, so why haven't I seen you since Labor Day?”
Victoria bit the inside of her cheek. This was late breaking news! Parker had never told her that Pamela lived in such close proximity, or that he'd seen her within the last few months. It sounded like they had a recent history, not an ancient one as he'd said.
“The hospital keeps me very busy, and when I'm not there I usually spend my free time with Victoria,” he said firmly. They all stood in uncomfortable silence, save for the Christmas music playing in the background. Ready to end the awkward moment, Parker spoke up again. “We're glad you could make it this evening,” he nodded to Pamela, then to her parents. And with that, he took Victoria's hand in his and walked away.
“I thought you said you two were ancient history,” Victoria said through clenched teeth once they left the room.
“We are. Ancient history doesn't always mean time. In this case it means feelings,” Parker sighed, running his hand over his scalp. He looked into Victoria's eyes, knowing he had to tell her the complete truth. “We . . . we slept together a few months ago, before I met you. But I put an end to it . . . for good. That's the truth.”
Victoria realized that Parker didn't have to divulge the fact that they'd slept together. He could have easily said they'd only gone out, but he told her the full truth because he was trying to be honest. “Okay, so why didn't you tell me that she lived a few blocks from you?”
“For the same reason you never mentioned that Ted was white, or that he's the friend you were with when you had your accident,” Parker responded. “Because it's no big deal. Isn't that what you told me?”
Victoria had to check herself. He'd just given her a taste of her own medicine. The only thing she could do was nod her head. “Yes, I guess you're right.”
“Baby, you know I love you, and as you can see I have no interest in Pamela. Now, let's get back to enjoying your favorite time of year.” He kissed her on the lips, quieting her fears.