Page 41 of A Trial of the Heart
“And pray, baby,” she added. “I’m gonna let you go. I have to start this here dinner for Deacon Silvers.”
My mother would cook every day when I was younger, and my father was alive. Once he passed and I had already moved out, the cooking slowed. About three months ago, she started cooking again for Deacon Silvers. She said it was because he recently lost his wife. I had my thoughts about that, but mymother was grown. My daddy had been gone for some time now, and she deserved happiness.
“Yes, ma’am. I love you too,” I said before disconnecting the call and resting it back on the desk. The smile I had grew, and I had no reason for it.
Picking it back up, I went to text LeeAnn, but a text from an unknown number came through.
757-345-2345:Most times when I slide on a person I don’t double back. Something about you got me doubling back… nah tripling back. Either way, can you meet me tonight? I’ll let you pick the place. Rashad by the way.
The only reason I didn’t know it was Rashad was because I deleted his number. I was either being tested by God, or William and Arthur had put this whole thing in motion to ruin my career. Sitting there, I contemplated ignoring him or messaging him back. Most times, I was strong, but with him, I always felt the need to think it through fully first.
757-345-2345:If you not with it, I get it. It’s just something about you I can’t shake, and I feel the need to explain so you know who I really am.
On a normal day, I’d call or text LeeAnn for insight, but as I bit my bottom lip not really thinking of anything, I didn’t.
Me:My place tonight at 8 547 Park Ave. Williamsburg VA, 23188
“Oh fuck.”
I had been so caught up in the moment I hadn’t realized I’d given him my address. Since I had an iPhone and he did too, I still had time to unsend it before he saw it.
757-345-2345:Bet
“No, no, no!” It was too late.
Panicking, I called LeeAnn. “I messed up.”
She didn’t even have time to say hello before I spoke.
“Umm… Hello, Shiloh. I am well, and no, I’m not with patients at the moment,” she said sarcastically. “Now, how did you mess up?”
In a hushed tone, unsure if anyone was outside my office door ear hustling, I gave LeeAnn the details, not leaving anything out or missing a beat as I spoke. When I was done and she hadn’t said a word, I had to look to the phone to make sure the call was still rolling.
“You hear me?”
“Girl…” She dragged out the word in a low whisper.
“LeeAnn, really?”
She giggled. “Listen, girl, even this is extreme for me.”
“What am I supposed to do?”
“Ain’t nothing to do except make sure that thing waxed, stretch, and let that man work you out for the night. ‘Cause ain’t nothing else taking place.”
“Oh, girl, grow the hell up.”
“Nah, you grow up.”
I rolled my eyes. “You really aren’t helping right now.”
“Hell you want me to say, Shiloh? You and that man had relations and undeniable chemistry so much so folks on the boat thought y’all were married or at least engaged. Now, he’s coming to your house, and not even early. He’s coming when dinner should be done, and you’d be his dessert.”
“Do you have any other advice?”
“Maybe use a condom this time?”
The entire time Rashad and I had sex it was unprotected, and though I was on birth control, I worried about an STD. The moment I got home, I got many tests done, and thankfully, they were all negative.
