It had been two weeks since we'd been back from the cruise.
I was sitting out by the pool in my favorite lounge chair enjoying the temperature. I had taken out my Senegalese twist so my real hair was flying everywhere in the wind. Taylor was at work and Tayla was playing with her Barbie's in the sandbox Taylor had built for her. I sipped on my Blue Long Island and took a long pull of my cigarette. Taylor hated the fact that I smoked but it was something I did when I was thinking too much.
Even though Travis had ended the affair, I still couldn't believe he actually dissed me for a white woman and talking about marriage. Taylor had been walking around the house everyday telling me about Travis' wedding and how all out they were going to go.
When Taylor had told me he was paying for half the wedding, I objected immediately.
"TJ, have you lost your damn mind? Why you have to pay for his wedding? He has money! Tell him to do it himself!" I snapped irately. I wasn't about to let any of our money go into his stupid ass wedding. It simply just wasn't going to happen.
"Baby, Travis is my friend and you know that. I offered to pay! I'm happy the brotha found a woman to settle down with." Taylor said.
I shook my head. Sometimes Taylor could be so damn stupid. Last time I checked, Travis was a lawyer who made more than enough money to pay for his own wedding. There was no way
I was going to let Taylor pay for Travis and Becky's wedding after he basically dissed me to marry her. It wasn't about to happen.
"Taylor, you are not paying for Travis' wedding." I repeated with authority. I didn't care if Taylor was the one working and making all the money we had. I was his wife, which meant his money was also my money, and I damn sure had a say so in this matter.
Taylor seemed puzzled by my reaction. He was staring at me with a goofy expression on his face.
"Sundy," he began. "What's your problem? Why are you being so selfish? Don't you like Travis?"
I sighed. "It's not about liking him, Taylor. It's about him being a grown ass man and his ability to pay for his own wedding! I swear Taylor. If you pay for that wedding, you are sleeping in a guest room for an entire month and NO SEX!"
He smirked, and tilted his head. "You're so mean, Sundy. You gonna do a brotha like that?" Taylor laughed and I could tell he felt defeated. "But, if you don't agree, then I'll let him know it's been a change of plans. He's not going to throw a fit," Taylor walked over to me and pecked me on my cheek.
"You're lucky I love you woman," he whispered.
I flashed my pearly whites and giggled, glad that Taylor knew what was up. I had skills at getting what I wanted, and if I didn't want him paying for Travis wedding then it wasn't going to happen. I was the boss up in here and the Queen B. Since Travis wanna play with me, I'll see how he likes me playing with him.
***
"Baby, you wanna go shopping with mommy?" I asked Tayla, walking up to the sandbox.
"Yes! Can I get new toys, mommy?" Her big eyes pleaded with me.
Lord knows Tayla didn't need anymore toys but I just couldn't say no to such an innocent face. I told her we could get her new toys and she ran in the house to put on her sandals.
I grabbed the keys to the Hummer as Tayla followed behind me out the door.
I wanted to get new jeans and a couple pairs of shirts. So I stopped at the BeBe store, it was my favorite. I was happy that Tayla was such a well behaved child and didn't give me problems at all. I sometimes hated going shopping because I would always end up buying stuff that I knew I didn't need.
. I bought more Guilty Gucci perfume, more Diamond earrings and a tennis bracelet for Tayla. When I got to the counter, I couldn't believe I was seeing Donnell and Heather a few feet away from me looking at watches. I shook my head and tried to hurry up and purchase my items before they saw mebut I wasn't fast enough; Donnell spotted me. Lord knew I wasn't in the mood to fake being nice.
"Sundy! What's up? Surprised seeing you here." Donnell exclaimed flashing his big rabbit teeth.
I couldn't believe he was talking to me like we were cool or something. He knew better than to speak to me so why was he speaking now? Just because we were out didn't give him a pass.
I put my hand on my hip and exhaled a breath.
"Donnell, why are you talkin' to me? You know we don't rock like that."
Before he could say anything, Heather came over. She really knew better than to speak so she said nothing to me, but spoke to Tayla. I gave the lady behind the counter my black card.
"Are you purchasing a gift for Travis' wedding?" Donnell asked, being nosey.
"No!" I snapped. I actually didn't mean to be nasty with my tone but the question annoyed me.
"Sheesh! My bad! Don't hurt me. Well, tell Taylor to call me later so we could discuss Travis' wedding. You know y'all are paying for it and we're going to be there." Donnell smiled proudly.
I took a deep breath because this stupid fool just didn't know that we weren't paying for a damn thing because I said so! "Donnell, we're not paying for Travis' wedding. I told Taylor no." I grabbed my bags and handed Tayla one to carry as well.
Donnell scrunched up his face. "What? What you mean, girl? How you fix your mouth to say anything, let alone ‘no' when it's not even your money?" Donnell scoffed and shook his head disapprovingly. "See, I've always said black women didn't know their place! Always want to play both roles; being the man and shit." He sucked his teeth and looked me up and down as if I was something he didn't recognize.
Before I could chew his ass, he and Heather hurriedly walked off. He knew to get his ass out of my presence before I showed him what he was looking for. After we left the store, I took Tayla to BW3's. Before we went home, we stopped at the Build-A-Bear Workshop. She created a cheerleader bear and a maid bear that she said was Marcia. I chuckled at the bear because with the maid outfit and rosy cheeks, it actually looked like her.
When we got home I was actually surprised when I saw Taylor sitting in the kitchen.
"Hey," I said walking into the kitchen. "I'm surprised you're home tonight." I smiled kissing his cheek.
"Yeah, I didn't feel like being at the office tonight. Wanted to spend some time with my beautiful wife and my daughter. Let's have a movie night. What'll you say?"
I stuck out my bottom lip and nodded my head in agreement. "Sounds good!"
When I got to our bedroom, I stripped out of my clothes and ran me a hot bath in the giant Jacuzzi tub. I poured in some vanilla scented Avon bath oil before I got in and sunk deep into the tub. The water was steaming hot the way I liked it. My mind went back to the BeBe store and Donnell saying what he said.
His morbid ass truly had some nerve. I had all the say so in the world over my husband's money and it wasn't because I wanted to be the man and be controlling. Just because Heather didn't have the balls to speak up about their money didn't mean I was the same way. She was the typical white girl that black men went after; just stupid with no fight in them.
I didn't get out of the tub until I was wrinkled. When I got down to the movie room; I could see Taylor and Tayla munching on popcorn watching Finding Nemo. When I entered the room, Taylor's head snapped in my direction.
"Glad you could finally make it, baby. Come join us."
I took the chair next to them and sunk into the soft pillows.
By the time the movie was over, Tayla was sound asleep. I found myself interested in the little animated film, probably a little too interested. Taylor carried Tayla up to her room and told me he would be up to bed in a minute.
I had to admit I was feeling damn tired. It felt like I hadn't slept in weeks. When I got up to our room, I hit the sheets. I didn't even hear Taylor come into the room. I felt his strong hands caress my thigh. I wiggled around in bed beneath him not really wanting to be touched. I felt unusually tired and wasn't in the mood for sex.
When I felt Taylor slide his hand up my teddy, I stopped him.
"Not tonight, Taylor. I'm so tired, baby can you just hold me?"
Taylor smiled and was more than happy to honor my wishes. He lay behind me and pulled me into his arms. I wiggled my booty against his groin as I felt his rock hard dick poking me.
"Girl, don't start nothing you ain't go finish," Taylor said.
I chuckled, and held onto him as I drifted off to sleep.
EIGHT
The need to puke is what woke me and had me sprinting to make it to the toilet. It felt like I was throwing up a demon. When I was done, I held my stomach and sat on the bathroom floor. This feeling was all too familiar but I wasn't going to entertain the idea of me being pregnant until my doctor confirmed it.