Last Temptation by Michelle Stimpson

Author:Michelle Stimpson
Language: eng
Format: mobi
ISBN: 0758246862
Publisher: Dafina
Published: 2010-10-26T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 21

My double-chin was the last thing to go when I lost eighty pounds a decade earlier, and it was the first staple sign to appear when the weight returned. The extra fullness stared back at me on my first official day of unemployment.

Not only was I unemployed, I was officially fat again.

And the rain kept coming.

As ill-timing would have it, the next night was the evening Raphael and I were called in to meet with the Frierson folks and discuss the results of Eric’s assessment. When the receptionist called to confirm that Raphael and I would be there, I spoke only for myself and told her she’d have to talk with Raphael personally. She seemed surprised, maybe even annoyed. Nonetheless, she must have called him because he beat Eric and me to Frierson.

Eric released my hand and flew to his father as soon as we entered the place. “Hey, Dad!”

“What’s up?”

They hugged like long lost relatives who hadn’t just seen each other in recent history. Raphael helped Eric out of his raincoat and hung it on the coatrack near the door. Then the two had a brief conversation before Eric tried to busy himself in the children’s play area. I quickly redirected him to pick up a book instead of fooling with those toys.

“But Mom—”

No words needed. The eye stopped his whining.

I chose a different section of the waiting area to be seated. Raphael made his way over to me, invading my private space with his seductive cologne. That stuff ought to be illegal, smelling like strong, working, educated black man with swag.

“I’m sorry about the other night.”

I kept my eyes downcast, pretending to browse the Web on my cell phone. “As you should be.”

“Leaving Cheryl is not that simple. I have to get things in order. I can’t just walk out,” he tried to explain.

“Funny. You didn’t have a problem walking out on me and Eric.”

He grasped my chin and pulled my face toward his. “Peaches, I want you to leave the past in the past, all right? I’m not the man I used to be. I’m better now. I don’t want to leave Cheryl high and dry. It’s not her fault I couldn’t get over you.”

Hmmm ... was this some kind of a reverse romance psychology? As a woman, I could appreciate his sensitivity. Getting dumped is brutal. But as his woman (if that’s what I called myself), Raphael’s consideration for Cheryl’s feelings annoyed me.

A loud clap of thunder brought Eric back to my side. Eric was eight, but he was still very much afraid of storms and all their accompanying glory. He sat down at my feet, abruptly ending the tense conversation with Raphael.

When we were called to a meeting room to discuss the results, I assured Eric he would be fine waiting in the lobby area without us. He didn’t buy my words of encouragement.

“You straight, man.” Raphael pumped his son’s confidence.

Eric inhaled his father’s certainty.

I was again thankful to have Raphael at my side.

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