Page 5 of Road to Absolution

CHAPTER 3

The Last Time, for A While

In the bedroom, I whispered, “I don’t think that’ll fit in there. You need a bigger one.”

Standing in the middle of the half-built bed frame, Tucker gaped. “Can you please notsay such a thing to your goddamn best friend? That can hurt a man’s feelings.”

I tried to fix my error. “Aw, buddy, I would never criticize your junk. You are very well endowed.”

Tuck’s shoulders softened. “Thanks, sugar. That means a lot coming from you.”

A throat cleared. “Dimwits.” Viola was putting neatly folded clothes in a dresser drawer. “The big boys are watching.”

Tuck and I glanced away from each other and looked to John and Diesel, who were now frozen in place, holding a curtain rod over their heads at a bedroom window. They looked baffled, and a tad concerned.

“What?” I asked. “I only know because we’ve showered together before.”

“Oh my God.” Viola slid a drawer shut while John and Diesel cringed.

Tucker lowered his voice, which was deep to start with, and said the manliest thing he could conjure under such short notice. “I know how to work my wrench.”

A whimper escaped both father figures as they went back to hanging the curtain rod.

Opening another box, Viola started to self-chant, “He loves my daisy. He loves my daisy…” With an arm full of more shampoo bottles than one woman should need, Viola walked toward the master bathroom. “The sun is down, and I need to wake Pretty D before her dinner gets cold. Now focus, baboons.”

Diesel and John did their best to muffle their laughter so we didn’t wake Lilah until Vixen was ready.

Tuck and I, scorned, finished building the bedframe. It had been delivered that morning while I was with my trainer, but the employees realized there was a mix-up on the mattress from the warehouse. I was doing my best to make sure Lilah had a place to sleep tonight when the correct ordered item arrived.

Staring at the frame with a missing essential part, I hadn’t realized John was now next to me until he grabbed my shoulder. “It’ll come. You’ll have your first night in your home with your wife, happy and comfortable.”

Exhaling, I nodded, repeating his words, “It’ll come.” Then I gazed out the bedroom window to see the sun saying goodnight. “V?”

She came out of the closet, exhaling. “I know, big guy. I’ll go wake her.”

Bringing Lilah into the bedroom, she gasped when seeing Diesel, “You’re here!” and ran to hug him. After doing so, she cupped his cheek. “You okay?”

I had been so wrapped up in my own world, I didn’t even notice the dark circles under his eyes.

He kissed her palm. “Love you, girl. I’m fine.” Then, yet again, the conversation was rerouted.

Now looking back, I can see it all…

Diesel pointed to behind me. “Look what your husband did.”

Lilah sighed when seeing me as if we had been apart for days. Damn. I love you, baby. Then I stepped aside so she would pay more attention to what was behind me.

Her eyes wandered… then locked on her gift. “Oh my God.” Her honey-colored orbs raced back to me. “I wanted that rocking chair.”

I chuckled. “So I was told.”

She blinked. “But… the only person I told was—” She looked to Viola. “You didn’t.”

Organizing perfume bottles on top of the dresser, Vixen rolled her eyes playfully saying, “Goat-Boy needs all the help he can get.”

Men started laughing, knowing I hated the nickname Tuck had given me years ago, due to my goatee. Glaring at them all, I wiped down my goatee a couple of times. “Fuckers.”

I was quickly distracted when my woman wrapped her arms around my waist and gazed up at me. “I love you so much it hurts, Mr. Hutton.”