“Why in hell would you tell her that?”
“Because I can recall how devastated you were when you broke up with Monica. Do you remember when you told me you wanted to leave the army? And I had to talk you out of it because you’d gone through hell to make it through the training to become an Army Ranger.”
“For your information, I didn’t break up with Monica. She broke up with me when she admitted she wasn’t cut out to be a military wife.”
“Why didn’t you give her the option of not living on the base?”
“It was more than that.”
“How much more?” Parker questioned
“She didn’t want to be married, and she didn’t want children.”
Reese told his cousin the details behind his failed marriage, seeing an expression of shock freeze Parker’s features. When he’d returned home on leave without Monica, he’d told everyone a half truth, that he and Monica had grown apart and that he had filed for divorce. He hadn’t wanted his grandmother’s prediction to manifest itself. When he’d initially refused to agree to a divorce, Monica had gone to his superior officer to accuse him of rape after she’d refused to have sex with him. He’d been summoned to a meeting with the top brass, and he was forced to reveal everything going on in his marriage. He’d managed to convince them he wasn’t on the base during the date and time of the alleged rape, and was ordered to put in for a leave and get his personal life in order before returning for duty.
“Why didn’t you say that before?”
“Because it was none of your business,” Reese countered. “What goes on between a man and his woman in their relationship is none of anyone’s business.”
“You’re right, Reese. I’m sorry.”
“It’s a little late for an apology. But make this your first and last time you get into my personal business.”
“Okay.” Parker drained the can. “I think I’m going to need something a little stronger than a beer.”
Reese watched Parker walk away. He could not understand what had made him warn Cherie about something that had nothing to do with him. And what upset Reese was that Parker was a guest in Cherie’s home. He wanted to remind his cousin that this wasn’t the station house, where he gave orders and could expect them to be followed without question. He loved Parker like a brother, had always looked up to him, and knew he was trying to protect him, but what his cousin didn’t understand was that he didn’t need protecting. Now Reese regretted telling him that he was falling in love with Cherie.
He loved everything about her and knew that, if she’d told him she suspected she was pregnant, he would’ve proposed on the spot. What he didn’t want was a repeat of what his mother had gone through when she discovered she was pregnant. Not only hadn’t she known the father of her baby, but she’d been too ashamed to tell her mother that she was going to be a grandmother until after she’d given birth to a son. And Sondra knew that, even if she disappointed her mother, because she was expected to graduate college, her mother would never reject her grandchild.
Reese realized Parker wasn’t the only one who needed a drink. He returned to the kitchen to find Cherie laughing at something his cousin had said to her. Going on tiptoe, she kissed Parker’s cheek. Reese also smiled. It was apparent they’d worked out their differences.
* * *
Cherie lay in bed with Reese, smiling. She knew she couldn’t accept all the accolades for the success of the first social gathering in her home, because it never would’ve happened if she hadn’t had her book club buddies to help her. Yes, she’d contributed a few appetizers, but it was Kayana’s Mexican-inspired dishes and Derrick bringing over a tray of Creole chicken wings that made it a true, quintessential Super Bowl party with wings, beer, and guacamole. Reese and Parker had contributed two dozen bottles of assorted spirits, including several bottles of champagne that she’d stored in the pantry.
Her initial misunderstanding with Reese’s cousin was defused when he apologized to her for overstepping. She’d accepted his apology because if she was going to continue to date Parker’s cousin, she wanted to do so without any hint of acrimony between them. After all, blood was thicker than water, and she didn’t want to become a source of contention between the two men.
Even Andy Wilson morphed into party mode after a few drinks and had shocked Bettina when he urged her to sit while offering to bring her a plate. Cherie realized he’d been shamed into waiting on his wife when Graeme told him that if the women cooked, it was incumbent for their men to serve them. And she had to admit that Bettina’s contribution of sausage and peppers was phenomenal; she had gone back for a second helping before all of them were gone.
“What are you thinking about, bae?”
Cherie shifted on her side and rested her arm over his flat belly. After he’d dropped Parker home, he’d returned to her house to help with the cleanup. He’d admitted to her that his cousin wasn’t much of a drinker; after downing a couple of margaritas, he was two sheets to the wind.
“The Super Bowl party was a rousing success. Thank you for helping out.”
Reese wound his fingers in her unbound hair. “The kudos go to you and your book club sisters. And I can’t believe there weren’t any leftovers.”
“Because of you, Parker, Derrick, Graeme, and Andy eating like piranhas, I had to change my mind that Kayana had made too much food.”
Reese chuckled. “That’s because everything was beyond delicious. And I must give it to Bettina. Her Nona’s sausage and peppers were incredible.”
“Tell me about it. When I went back for seconds, there was hardly any left.”
“I think Andy really enjoyed himself.”
“That’s because after he’d had a couple of drinks, he was able to shed some of his inhibitions and get down with the get down. Did you see him dancing in his seat during the halftime entertainment?”
Reese laughed again. “I did. I think the man needs a hobby or a part-time gig because I don’t believe he’s adjusting well to retirement.”
