Color of Deception (5 page)

Chapter 12

The bright sunlight shining through the curtains helped arouse Carlisha from her peaceful sleep. She rolled to her back from sleeping on her side and rubbed the sleep from her eyes before slowly opening them. The brightly painted, sunflower yellow colored room was also welcoming to her sleepy eyes. She had slept many nights on that bed in that room. It used to be her bedroom room away from home. On the nightstand was still a picture of her, Moriah and Pete that was taken during Carlisha’s first Christmas in Maryland after she moved from Florida. Moriah had placed it on the nightstand. Carlisha had the same picture on the mantle at her apartment.

Carlisha noticed the time on the clock – eleven-thirty in the morning. She sat up quickly with surprise.
Oh no, I hope Pete isn’t upset with me for sleeping so long.
Carlisha threw her legs off the bed and stood up. She grabbed her duffle bag off the chair against the wall in the room and quickly changed into a pair of dark stretch jeans and coordinating dark blouse that would look fine with her red flats. She stuffed the duffle bag with her things then made her way to the bathroom and rearranged her braids to form a high bun, after she peed. Then she quickly finished up with her morning bathroom routine.

She quietly made her way down the steps carrying her purse and duffle bag. She wasn’t sure if Pete was home or not and, if he was, she didn’t want to disturb him. When she reached the bottom of the stairs she noticed Pete sitting on the couch, with a beer bottle in one hand and a remote in the other. It was as if he never left that spot last night. But Carlisha could tell that he did because instead of the polo shirt he had on last night, he was now casually wearing a light-blue striped dress shirt with a pair of dark jeans. She suddenly felt like a kid about to get in trouble for doing something wrong. It was so hard for her to read Pete’s demeanor since he
changed
. She took the last step, and slowly walked toward the walkway into the living room where Pete sat watching TV.

“Good morning. I’m sorry I slept late. But thank you for allowing me to spend the night.”  She felt so uncomfortable being around him now, though she knew he wouldn’t do anything to harm her – at least she hoped not.

Pete nodded his head acknowledging her, before he took a sip of beer. That was his comfort now: sitting on the couch with a beer bottle in his hand watching sports or news about sports. That kept him from thinking about how many ways to kill a black man, to rid the world of the thing that turned his life into a nightmare. That shot he took last night injuring the black young thug brought him great satisfaction. Pete took another sip of beer in memory of him shooting the black guy lying on the floor bleeding and pleading for his life. That also reminded him that he would have to meet with the cleaning company to clean up the office after the police were done with their investigation.

“Okay. I guess I’ll see you on Tuesday after the holiday.” Carlisha started toward the front door.

“How do you know Debra?” Pete asked with his eyes still on the TV.

“She’s in a couple of my classes at school.” Carlisha stood frozen with her back to Pete. She wasn’t sure if he would pry more or if she should continue to leave.

“What is she majoring in?” Pete was really curious now. He wanted to know as much about Debra as possible. But he also didn’t want Carlisha to know how intrigued he was with Debra. Though he figured that would be tough, just his asking about her gave him away. He placed the beer bottle down on the coffee table, but still didn’t look toward Carlisha.

Carlisha turned and walked back to the walkway into the living room. “She’s a business major.” She knew Pete had a thing for Debra ever since they all bumped into each other at the grocery store. So she wasn’t surprised by his questions.

Pete wished Carlisha would divulge more instead of him having to ask numerous questions. He felt so juvenile. “Is she single?” Pete couldn’t believe he just asked her that. Would she think he was cheating on his wife too?
But why should I care what she thinks?
But he needed to know if his fantasies of Debra should continue, with hope at least that he would build up the courage to ask her out.

Carlisha gently loosed her hand from holding her duffle bag so it fell quickly on the floor next to her feet. “She’s divorced. Forty-two, no kids. She’s a really nice woman – we’re good friends.”

“Okay!”
She’s single – good
. Pete thought with a smile. He reached over and picked up his beer off the coffee table and took a gulp. The good news gave him even more of a reason to drink.

Carlisha picked up her duffle bag and turned to leave after he didn’t probe for more information. She was happy she was able to put a smile on Pete’s face, she couldn’t remember the last time she’d seen him smile.

Chapter 13

Carlisha sat on her couch flipping the channels hoping to find something intriguing to watch. The sun was about to set for the night and she desperately wanted to call Pete and ask if she could sleep over again. She felt very uncomfortable being alone after the attempted robbery at work yesterday. Every strange sound made her jumpy. On her way home today she stopped at the department store and bought some door and window chimes, that she installed herself, just so she would feel safer in her apartment. But with night about to fall she was beginning to feel very uneasy.

She reached for her cellphone on the coffee table then strolled through her contacts.
Debra – maybe she wouldn’t mind having a sleepover.
Carlisha touched Debra’s number to call.

“Hi Debra, it’s Carlisha. How are you?”

“Hey Carlisha – I’m good. I’m actually in North Carolina right now, should be by my sister in an hour. What are your holiday plans?”

“Oh – I’m just staying in, nothing special.”

“Had I known, I would have invited you to drive with me. The beach is great here.”

“Well, maybe the next time you visit your sister. When will you be back?”

“Wednesday morning hopefully. I have to work that evening.”

“Okay. Be safe and have fun!”

“Thanks!”

Carlisha pressed end on the phone. She was disappointed that she wouldn’t be able to escape her loneliness with the company of Debra.
What was I thinking anyway – it’s a holiday weekend. Everyone is spending time with their family and loved ones.
Carlisha scrolled through her cellphone contacts again. Roger. Carlisha stared down at his name and number illuminated on her phone. Her thumb anxiously danced over the contact. She pressed call and waited patiently with the phone to her ear as it rang.

“Carlisha – what is it now?” Roger asked irritably.

“Hey. Can you come over?” Carlisha asked sweetly, which she almost didn’t believe came out of her mouth. But she was desperate for company.

“Look Carlisha I’m not in the mood for any B.S. tonight. So you want me to come to chill or to talk some baby mess?”

Carlisha rolled her eyes in frustration. But she bit her tongue to prevent herself from saying something smart. “I just want us to chill – that’s all.”

“Okay cool. Let me take care of a few things and I’ll be there in thirty.”

“Okay – see you then.” Carlisha pressed end on the phone and stared at it, stunned that she actually called Roger to come and spend the night. She quickly placed the phone on the coffee table so she wouldn’t call him back and tell him to forget about it. She stood up and dashed to the bathroom so she could take a shower.

**KC**

Carlisha opened the door, forgetting about her grievances with Roger, just complete joy at the moment of having his company. She stood at the door barefoot wearing a knee length, silk black nightgown. Her braids cascaded along her shoulders and back. “Hey,” she said welcoming him in.

“Mmmm, you look good. Damn! I can’t believe we haven’t seen each other in months.” Roger walked in the apartment carrying a brown paper bag. He closed the door behind him as Carlisha stepped back to let him in. He pulled her to him with his free hand and kissed her on the neck. “You smell good too.”

“Thank you!” Carlisha blocked him a bit so he didn’t press too much against her belly.

“I bought some wine – red is your favorite. I remembered.” Roger released her and walked toward the small kitchen.

“I can’t drink alcohol.”

“Come on Carlisha, you’re still keeping up with that lie. You don’t even look pregnant.”

“Well I am.”

“Okay fine, cool. If that’s your story…” Roger popped open the wine bottle after retrieving two wine glasses from the cupboard.

Carlisha sat on the couch as she watched him. His caramel colored skin, close shaved haircut and bright smile were the first things she noticed about him when she came into the mechanic shop to have her car brakes changed. They had hit it off right away. He was also from Florida, but had been living in Maryland for eight years. He was five years older than her and was the one to first introduce her to drinking wine. She enjoyed their time together when they were dating, when they would just cuddle up on the couch and watch movies and drink wine and order pizza. She missed that – him. So she pushed aside the fact that she hated him for dumping her after she told him she was pregnant – which apparently he was still denying.

“Here you go babe,” Roger handed Carlisha a glass of wine.

“Roger, I told you I can’t.”

He smiled. “Alright. I’ll rest it here in case you change your mind.” He placed the full wine glass on the coffee table in front of her. He took a sip of wine from his glass after sitting down next to her then he placed it on the coffee table.

“How have you been?” Carlisha attempted to make small talk. Although she missed him, it was hard to really overlook the elephant in the room.

“I’ve missed you – a lot.” Roger cupped the back of Carlisha’s neck and gently pulled her to him. He kissed her passionately. Carlisha’s body melted in his kiss. She had missed that too. The intimacy they had. Her body ached for his sexual touch. Roger fondled her breasts, then he slid his hand down to her belly, and felt her bump. “You are pregnant?” he asked in her mouth. He released their kiss and looked down at his hand on her belly.

“Yes! I’m pregnant.” Carlisha confirmed looking down at his hand on her midsection.

Roger pulled at her nightgown to lift it over her belly so he could investigate her pregnant bump better. There was no denying it if he wanted to, she was definitely pregnant as he could see. But he was also already very aroused and didn’t want her baby bump to stand between him getting her in bed.
I didn’t come over here for nothing.
He continued to kiss her as if
that
didn’t just happen.

Carlisha took it as his accepting the fact that she was carrying their child. She relinquished her body to him. The comfort of his body against hers made her forget about her attack yesterday. She felt safe, she felt loved, she felt needed.

**KC**

“Hey, what are you doing?” Carlisha asked Roger after she woke up and saw him pulling on his jeans then sitting on the edge of her bed to put on his shoes.

“I’m heading out. It was great hanging out with you last night…”

Hanging out?
Carlisha repeated in her head. “You’re not going to stay? I thought we could go to the movies today.” She sat up in her bed. She didn’t want to be alone the long holiday weekend. Carlisha admired his naked muscular back as he bent over.

Roger stood up and pulled his shirt over his head. “Come on Carlisha, I thought this was just us hooking up for the night.”

Carlisha fought the emotion to get upset. Last night was too great, in her mind, to allow their moment together to be ruined this morning. “Please? I don’t want to be alone for the holiday,” she admitted.

Roger was reluctant. But he admitted to himself that the sex was great last night – like he’d remembered. Even with a pregnant bump. “Okay. Tonight. And let’s go to the theatre in Virginia, the ones down this way sell out quick anyway.”

“I wanted us to go today, in a couple hours or something. What do you have to do anyway? Isn’t this your Saturday off from the shop?”

Roger looked at his watch. “I have to run some errands. I can be back in an hour.” He looked down at her exposed full breasts. They were bigger than he had remembered. He hoped to get reacquainted with them again tonight. He grabbed his wallet and keys off the nightstand before giving Carlisha a quick kiss on the forehead.

Carlisha lay back against the headboard smiling broadly as he walked out of the bedroom.

**KC**

“What time does the movie start?” Roger took Carlisha’s car keys from her and started up the car.

“At one. I think you will like it, it’s a comedy.” Carlisha buckled up her seat belt. She smiled at the fact of being chauffeured. It had been a while since she’d been a passenger in a vehicle.

They pulled up at the movie theatre at twelve-forty. Carlisha waited a moment in her seat to allow Roger the opportunity to open the car door for her, but he had already made steps toward the building before he realized she wasn’t beside him. Annoyed, she opened her own door and walked toward him as he waited.

“I have to pick up our tickets from the machine, can you get me some popcorn and Raisinets with a medium Coke.” Carlisha was about to make her way to the kiosk to retrieve their tickets, but stopped when she heard a female voice call out Roger’s name.

“Roger, Roger, Roger,” a tall, beautiful, heavyset woman said, walking toward them accompanied by another female.

“Damn!” Roger said under his breath along with a couple cuss words.

Carlisha stepped closer to Roger to take claim of her man as she watched the women approach. Roger tried to step away from her, but Carlisha caught him by the arm. She was curious as to whom these women were but she wanted them to know that Roger was hers and the father of her unborn child.

“Does your wife know you’re out on a date?” The heavyset woman roared at Roger then looked at Carlisha suspiciously.

The world suddenly stop spinning at that moment and it took Carlisha a minute to allow the woman’s words to sink in. “You’re married!?” Carlisha shouted yanking her hand away from Roger. “You’re married?”

“Look Nicey, this isn’t what it looks like, alright? This is my boy’s girl, he’s already in the movies she and I just walked in together, that’s all...” Roger looked cool and relaxed as ever making Carlisha look like the crazy one ranting and raving about him being married.

“Really?” Nicey said skeptically then walked off. Her silent friend was right on her heels.

“Will you calm down, damn!” Roger snatched Carlisha by the arm to get her to stop hollering like a maniac.

“Calm down! Are you married?” Carlisha snatched her arm back away from him bringing her voice down, they already had people pointing and whispering about them. She couldn’t believe how nonchalant he was about her finding out his big fat lie, she immediately felt like a complete fool.

“Yes I’m married. But that doesn’t have to come between us–” SLAP! Carlisha swung her hand flat on his left cheek which caught him completely off guard. She dashed away toward the exit not looking back. Nicey and her friend watched the whole scene while in line for their snacks.

Carlisha dug in her purse for her car key. She was thankful that Roger had given it to her after he drove, because he said it was too bulky for him to keep in his pocket. She sat in the car before allowing the tears to erupt.
I can’t believe he’s married. I was helping him cheat on his wife!
Carlisha agonized in her mind.
Oh God! I slept with a married man and I’m having his baby.
“How did I allow this to happen?” Carlisha buried her face in her hands as she sobbed.
That’s it! I’m not going to get caught up again. I’m keeping my cookie to myself until I find my own husband.
She brushed the tears from her eyes and started the car. She was done crying over Roger. But she looked toward the movie theatre disappointed that he didn’t even run after her.