Naleighna Kai's Literary Cafe Magazine January 2018 New Year, New You | Page 75

spoke to him, the way she didn’t get too close to him and the way she never quite looked at me.
The interesting thing is Frank was attentive to me as he always was, his hands on me, getting me
drinks, making sure I was comfortable and introducing me as his wife who was in school to become
a principal. But I hurt deep and true.
Later in the car, he took my hand, holding it as I looked out the window…
“Look at me Glee.” He said. After making love to me he started calling me Glee. Turning to him,
I saw his eyes, his heart. “I only love you, I only married you, you are my wife.”
I didn’t respond but shortly afterwards I started my own fling… it didn’t last long, because it
wasn’t Frank, I only wanted Frank.”
Her words filled me with something I was unable to define. She didn’t sound sad or bitter just
resigned I guess to what it all was.
“How long before you stopped?” I had to ask.
“After two or three lovers…”
“Did Frank ever stop?”
“Yes, as far as I know… it ended with a conversation in bed.”
“Glee I ran into someone who knew you.” He said and my heart stilled. It was something about
the way he said it.
“He asked me if I were related to Gleena and before I could answer he said you were quite a
woman but had obligations… I felt like someone had stuck a poker covered with lye in my heart. I
never even knew you were… anyway. He said it had been a long time but he remembered you. It took
all I had not to punch him out because I thought he was being slick. I told him you were my wife and
he stopped speaking. I knew he had genuinely thought maybe you were my sister or something…
funny shit, huh?”
I knew exactly who he meant. I had met this guy at an education conference and I was in deep
pain over Frank and we had a fling. He tried pursuing me but I told him what happened in Miami
stayed in Miami. Who knew he would run into Frank years later and ask based on his name if he
knew me. I also suspect he saw Frank with someone and assumed there was no way he could be
married. Funny, shit right. Like Frank said. I never responded or admitted anything but I knew that
with all Frank had done he couldn’t abide the idea of me doing it.
I snorted at her words.
“Of course not, men, especially black men are caught up in the whore=Madonna thing and they
separate their hearts from their dicks but don’t think women can.” I said and Gleena howled with
laughter.
“You are so right. After that if he had another fling, I didn’t know about it and my instincts
usually kicked in. I am not sorry I stayed, A. Frank Gibbons loves me and I love him and this is our
marriage. No one else gets a vote.”
“You are absolutely right Mrs. Gibbons. We all have our reasons and our seasons for doing
myriad things. Your marriage, your business.”
The way they figured, even though Reverend Tom authorized only five hundred dollars for the
entire affair, they’d make it work and have money to spare. Still delusional, they ended in prayer.
Click here to visit Angelia Vernon Menchan’s Amazon.com Page
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