When the newlyweds arrived in
Montrose, they went to Inaya’s townhouse to collect some of her things, mostly
clothes, shoes, and her favorite baking and cookware. They agreed that they
would live at Chandler’s house and sublet her place since her lease was already
paid for the remainder of the year.
Inaya loved everything about her new
home, but she adored the black and white master bedroom most of all. That was where
the customized king-sized, extra-long, high-post mahogany bed was. From the
first night until now, that bed provided the best rest and the best pleasure
she ever had in her life. It was where Chandler made all of her sexual
fantasies come true and showed her what it was like to be treasured from head
to toe.
Because he constantly went out of his
way to please her, Inaya consented to regularly attend Sunday worship services
with him. However, she would not agree to attend Bible study until she had
settled a few more things between her and God. In the meantime, her soul would continue
to cozy up to the Lord vicariously through Chandler’s faith.
In church today, Inaya finally got a
chance to meet her in-laws in person. She talked to them over the phone
throughout the week, but they stayed away from the house to give the newlyweds
some time alone.
Just like on the phone, they all
welcomed her with open arms. None of them seemed to have any problem with her
and Chandler’s relationship or elopement. In fact, she found the Edenfields and
their whole church to be very open-minded. Perhaps it was because Dusty and
Leah eloped on their first date. Their pastors eloped after only a month of
dating. Both couples knew that they’d found the one and thus saw no need to
prolong the inevitable.
After
church, Inaya invited her in-laws over for
Sunday dinner. They readily accepted. She changed clothes and then got busy cooking
Cornish hens, homemade stuffing, steamed cabbage, and buttermilk biscuits. There
was no need to cook dessert. She stayed up late last night baking a spiced
applesauce cake. The moist cake with its raisin filling, glaze and apple slice
garnish was the result of an argument she had with her mother yesterday.
Uzuri called Saturday afternoon asking
to borrow Inaya’s car again. When she got a firm ‘No’ because of the stolen
battery issue and because Inaya was trying to break free of being an enabler,
she once again blamed Inaya for ruining her life. Then she hung up in her
face…again.
Sometimes I don’t know if I’m the
parent or the child,
Inaya mused, taking a second batch of biscuits out the oven while her female
in-laws set the dining room table. The men were in the living room eating
biscuits from the first batch while discussing the ever-changing local and
world events.
Inaya smiled just thinking about her
new family. The Edenfields didn’t seem to have blurred lines within their close-knit
group. The roles were clearly defined and adhered to. Parents were parents.
Children were children.
I wonder if adopted parents appreciate
their kids more than biological parents, Inaya thought. Though she wasn’t convinced that that
theory was true for every family, it certainly seemed to be true for hers.
Over dinner, Inaya found Dusty and
Leah to be just like Chandler described them – friendly and funny as all get
out. The same way they’d been over the phone. After dinner, they did a short
skit, showing everyone their new routine for their upcoming weekly visit to the
local children’s hospital. They even dressed up in the colorful clown suits
from their trunk, complete with makeup, big red noses, and large floppy black
polka-dotted shoes.
Inaya clapped with appreciation as the
Edenfields concluded their skit and took a bow from their place in the open
area that separated the living room from the dining room. “That was great.
Excellent!” She turned to her smiling husband on the navy-blue loveseat beside
her and whispered, “It must’ve been fun growing up in their household.”
“It was, but don’t tell them I told
you that,” Chandler whispered back, mischievously lifting his thick right brow.
His blue eyes twinkled as he concluded his own clapping and then pulled down
the sleeves of his long sky-blue polo jersey.
“You look
so good in that shirt,”
Inaya said discreetly, loving how the color matched his eyes. “Delicious. I
could just eat you up.” She licked her lips as she dragged her gaze from his
long torso up to his eyes.
Chandler moaned at her smoldering
perusal and provocative words. “Likewise, you big tease,” he said, lowering his
gaze to the formfitting turquoise shirt dress she wore, then lower to her shapely
legs and calves. “And when I do so, I
want you to keep those sexy shoes on,” he added, licking his lips at her
turquoise painted toenails before meeting her gaze again.
Inaya moaned this time. “That’s why I bought
them yesterday.” She crossed her legs to squeeze out some of the ache and so
that he could see her turquoise and pink trimmed peekaboo stilettos even
better. “Can’t wait to see them up in a V,” she whispered huskily, enjoying
teasing him.
Chandler let out a low growl, pulled
her into his lap, and proceeded to kiss her until her toes curled in those
pretty shoes. He kept kneading her calves the whole time.
Inaya was breathless and completely
discombobulated by the time that long kiss was over. Her body was on fire. Hot
tingles had her trembling with need.
“Tease me like that again and see what
else you get,” Chandler whispered in her left ear.
Inaya shuddered at that titillating
threat. Threat? No, she preferred to see it as a titillating promise.
Mario loudly cleared his throat. “Well,
I think both of today’s performances
deserve another piece of Inaya’s delicious cake,” he said, grinning from ear to
ear like the rest of the family, who were now all seated in various places in
the living room.
“It definitely does…for us all,”
Christina agreed with a chuckle. “Linus and I will do the honors of cutting
everyone a piece,” she said, rising from the navy-blue sectional couch and pulling
her husband up with her. Halfway to the kitchen, she paused, looked back at
Inaya with a smile, and said, “Its sure good to have a beautiful baker in the
family.”
Inaya smiled. “It’s good to be in this
beautiful family,” she replied, blinking back happy tears. She took deep
breaths to force her body to swiftly return to normal in the presence of so
many. Later she’d let it all hang loose…later…when she and Chandler were alone.
Suddenly the doorbell rang.
“Are you expecting someone else?”
Inaya asked her husband.
“No.” Chandler shook his head.
“I am.” Mario rose from the recliner
and stood to his full 6’1. “Joe and Doris are in the area visiting his mother
today. They wanted to stop by and meet your new wife before they left. I hope
it’s all right.”
“It’s fine.” Chandler nodded.
“Cool,” Mario replied and then headed
for the front door to let his college buddy in.
“Who is Joe?” Inaya asked, mentally
preparing herself for more company.
“Joe Powell is Mario’s former college
roommate and best friend. He’s like family to us. Joe owns a car dealership in
Appling. His father used to own the best bakery in Montrose before he died and
the family sold the business.” Chandler lowered his voice and added, “Joe’s a
nice guy, but he has a wandering eye. I feel sorry for his wife. He really
should have stayed single like Mario did since they’re both notorious ladies’
men. Even more so than I was.”
Joe
Powell? Inaya thought
in a panic. She sure hoped it wasn’t the same Joe Powell that she secretly dated
back in high school. The same Joe Powell whose father owned the bakery that she
used to work for.
It
is him, she quickly realized
when he rounded the corner to the living room with Mario and a frumpy looking
brunette following three steps behind him.
Can
I ever catch a break, Lord? Inaya
inwardly raged, speaking directly to Him for the first time in years.
© 2014 by Suprina Frazier
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