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His Bachelor's Party

iUniverse

We Need to Talk

Who would have imagined both of them in the same store on the twelfth anniversary of a court date that almost cost one of them her job and surely damaged both of their reputations. June 10 was an infamous date in each of their minds. They had sworn to hate each other until death. Ironically the confrontation and their pledges were over a man with whom neither of them was intimately involved at the present time. They rarely saw each other and, God forbid, never spoke to each other, but this time, it was different.

Faye needed to talk to Essence. Knowing how adamant Essence was about making Mychael D. her man and keeping him away from Faye would make saying anything to Essence a challenge. Faye had something to share that she was 99 percent sure Essence didn't know. She had just heard it a couple of weeks earlier from a very reliable source herself.

A cousin's friend whose brother and wife had received a save-the-date reminder from Mychael D. and his fiancée told her that Mychael D. was planning his wedding, which was to take place in September of the next year. Even though it was still fifteen months away, the date was set and a wedding was being planned.

After hearing this news, Faye realized that she was still very much in love with Mychael D., and given the bitch-what-are-you-looking-at look that Essence had just delivered, Essence might still be in love with him as well and might still blame Faye for his relocating to another city.

Hoping this moment would present itself one day but caught without any idea as to how to approach Essence, Faye lingered around, ready to take advantage of any opportunity to tell Essence — and possibly to see her reaction.

Essence happened to be wearing a spandex-and-silk midlength, fitted dress, accentuating her apple bottom and slim waist; it was similar to the one Faye herself was wearing. She stood at five feet nine and had a chocolate complexion. She was always wearing a pretty smile. Finally, without hesitation, near the checkout counter, frustrated with being in the same place as Faye, Essence asked Faye, with somewhat of an attitude, "Do you still have a problem with me? I see you keep looking at me out the corner of your eyes, and as far as I'm concerned, you and your drama are the reason for me and my situation. So you need to check yourself to protect yourself before you find you have wrecked yourself."

Faye was just as tall as Essence but a little thicker in the hips and had absolutely beautiful legs, a head full of hair with some huge curls, and more of a soft caramel skin tone. She turned to look directly at her and, determined not to respond negatively, said, "No, I don't have a problem with you, Essence. I was admiring your dress and particularly those designer sandals with the matching bag because of how they complemented each other. That is the reason I was looking you up and down." This was Faye's way of breaking the ice and possibly warming up Essence. "But now that you have my attention, I would like to have a decent and serious conversation with you."

Essence was all too ready to say, "Never in this lifetime!" but Faye moved toward her, interrupting her, and said in the gentlest of voices with a sincere expression, "Forgive me for cutting you off, but I need to let you know that I'm sorry for all the drama and problems we have had in the past. I realize how immature I was about the whole he's-my-man situation. Please believe what I'm saying and know this is a sincere apology."

Essence was in shock and speechless because she hadn't been sure what Faye's intentions were when she invaded her personal space. She just stood there looking at Faye. Then she adjusted her defensive posture to a very calm demeanor and said, "If you can take the high road of being a better woman, so can I! I'm sorry for all I've done, all I've said about you and to you. Now what is it exactly that we need to talk about?"

Faye asked Essence if she had some time to talk with her and if so if they could go and have a beverage in a café somewhere to chat like two sensible, grown women.

Essence reluctantly agreed. Faye suggested a nice place outside the popular, high-traffic areas because if anyone who knew either of them and their situation thought they saw them together, there was no telling what rumors would get started. Besides, they had both taken out a restraining order right after that court fiasco, which was making them both lawbreakers as they spoke — as Faye mentioned with a sense of humor. That sense of humor was something Essence found to be even more surprising about Faye. She was thinking to herself, This chick really might be all right.

Face-to-Face

At the café, while ordering a beverage with a light pastry, to eliminate the awkwardness of the situation, Faye and Essence asked how the other was doing job-wise and about each other's family. They agreed to take a seat in a secluded location for obvious reasons and continued the small talk.

While they were both still uncomfortable being in each other's company, Faye looked directly into Essence's eyes and said, "I'm pretty sure you're not aware of this, but Mychael D. is planning his wedding with some lady he met while in Memphis."

It became very obvious that Essence didn't know and that she was still very much in love with Mychael D. The painful expression that appeared immediately on Essence's face gave that away. This was exactly what Faye needed to know.

Faye then said, "I'm sorry for being so blunt with my delivery, but I knew no other way."

Essence first responded angrily, "Yeah, right, I'm sure you didn't!" She did not understand why Faye would need to bring her all the way out there to share what she surely knew would be hurtful news. Essence became even more frustrated with herself for letting her guard down and agreeing to have this sit-down with Faye.

Faye could see that Essence was hurt but, more important, realized it was possible that Essence thought this was an intentional attack to bring more pain to her life concerning Mychael D., so to eliminate that thought, she said, "Essence, I really know how you feel because when it was told to me, I felt the same way, and I was just as dumbfounded then as you are now. When I heard it, you were one of the first people I thought about, considering everything we both have been through over this one man."

As Essence was steadily trying to collect herself, Faye continued, "I know we both gave him our hearts and souls for years. I realized a long time ago why you were so angry and hated me so. He meant so much to you, like he did to me. Since he's been out of my life, I have yet to share a long-term relationship with any man. He is the standard that I compare everyone I date to. There are moments, when, if I knew how to reach him, I would apologize for making his life so miserable at times, by bringing so much drama to it! I would ask him to forgive me and just spend some quality time with me. I have cried many nights just thinking about how happy he would make me. There are things he would say or do that still help me through my days, things that would either bring a smile to my face or just made sense after he pointed them out and explained them to me! So if he was half as good, entertaining, and consoling to you as he was to me, then believe me — I understand your pain."

Essence had finally collected herself enough to ask if Faye had seen D'Lanor.

Faye said, "No, what about you?"

"Not in person but in a magazine!" she said and smiled. "He was wearing that ever gentle, seductive smile; dressed like a million dollars; and standing with the confidence of a world leader." Then with tears streaming down her face, she added, "I loved him and still love him so much. I gave him every part of me, and that still wasn't enough!"

Faye moved from her seat and took one right next to Essence. With her eyes full, she put her arms around Essence, leaned her head on her shoulder, and held her tight as she said, "I know! I know! We both did, and believe this or not, I would take him back right now, with you as one of his women, if I could. That's how much I miss him and love him."

Essence pulled back, looked at her, and said, "I'll take him back too, but I'm still not willing to share him."

"That's too bad. That's what I really wanted to talk with you about."

Essence, with a puzzled look, said, "What?"

Faye was faced with the realization that this might be a bigger challenge than she had anticipated, and with the look on Essence's face, she was not anxious to continue. But what did she have to lose! She might as well drop all the cards on the table and let them fall where they would. So as boldly as she could, she said, "I wanted to talk with you about us trying to get him back! I don't think I can get him back alone, especially since he thinks he has found his soul mate. I'm not selling myself short! I just know what it will take. Essence, you and I can win him and his love back if we just allow him to love us freely. We both know he loved us and cared a great deal about each of us. I really believe that's why he didn't choose either one of us! He didn't want to hurt the other through making a choice. So he walked away from both of us!"

As Essence was displaying an expression of I-cant-believe-what-I'm-hearing-you-say, Faye was reading her expression but didn't miss a beat. "I have thought about this since I heard about his wedding plans, and I don't know what else to do and can't come up with anything other than for us to try as a team. I really want him back in my life! Many may say I am compromising myself, and if that's what I'm doing from their point of view, so be it! I'm not that young, but more important, I really don't want anyone else in my life. It has been two years, and I have not been happy with any man like I was with him. What about you, Essence? How has your love life been?"

"Well, if you're referring to a man, nothing to even print in the obituaries."

"So it's been that dead, huh?"

"Not if you're referring to my battery-operated companion because we are the best of lovers."

As they both laughed, the thought of them working together made a little more sense to Essence. She had been open to trying something different and new for quite some time, and if it meant doing it with Faye, well, why not? After all, they both really did love him. But then, another person's face and name crossed Essence's mind, and with just a little reluctance, she said, "So you don't know about Vonda?"

Faye, looking very surprised, was just about to say no when she was interrupted.

"I can tell by your expression you don't!"

"I don't. Who is Vonda, Essence?"

"Someone he had some intimate dealing with outside of us."

"Tell me more!"

"She is someone I saw him with. She lives in the neighboring city and used to work somewhere in the area, but I think she has relocated. I saw him and her coming out of a nice restaurant on Tryon Street late one evening. I just happened to be coming from a seminar and while taking the scenic route, there they were, slowly moving from the front of the entrance of the restaurant toward the corner of Trade and Tryon."

As Faye was listening carefully, she was also searching her mind. She was trying to find any evidence of the possibility that Mychael D. was seeing someone else but to no avail, as Essence's voice intruded with, "It first appeared like it was the closing of a business meeting of some type because several people passed them, saying good night after shaking his hand. They weren't acting like a couple, but then as it appeared that he was saying good night to her, he gave that erogenous touch with that seductive look that he ever so cleverly does in public. I'm sure you know the one where he confirms, without saying a word, that it won't be long before you are bumping, grinding, sweating, and screaming his name while you are building up to another fantastic climax."

Faye was listening hard and engaging with looks of "Tell me more," so as not to disturb Essence's flow in order to hear everything she had to say about this Vonda.

"Faye, I first thought she was your replacement, since he knew that I was aware of you. But after several more dramatic encounters with you, I knew you weren't out of the picture. When I confronted him about her, he denied that something intimate was going on. He said she was someone he was soliciting to assist him with his project because she had so much to offer marketing-wise. Like a woman in love, I believed him until I found her name with his name on the same credit card. Then again, he gave me that same old story — that he needed her marketing skills and that was the only thing happening between them. He added that the credit card was a necessary tool for those assisting him for business purposes and she just happened to be the first to get one. Even when I talked with her, she denied it and had the nerve to say she wished he did desire her intimately! Then I found out they were telling the truth; they weren't lovers when I confronted him or her. Eventually they became lovers, and out of the last twelve years I was seeing him, she was part of at least eight of those years that I know of!"

"Damn, Essence, that Mychael D. never ceases to amaze me. I never knew about this Vonda! What does she look like? Maybe I have seen her and thought, like you, that they were business acquaintances."

"She's shorter than either of us with what the brothers call a basketball ass; she has a small waist, pretty long hair as if she has Native American Indian in her blood, a soft light-chocolate complexion, and I must admit some of the prettiest white teeth. Faye, I knew you didn't know about her, and so many times, I wanted to let you know I wasn't your only problem. You would act like I was invading your territory when we were only sharecroppers, sharing that which both of us wanted exclusive rights to."

"Sharecroppers, Essence? Now I've been called a lot of things, but that's a first!"

"Well, Faye, you and I were just women in love with a man who loved women, a man who knew what made us tick. He could make the saddest of women's grayest day turn to a completely sunny day. Anyway, Vonda became very special to him as well. He spent a lot of time with her over the years ... Why are you looking at me like that, Faye?"

"Essence, I'm curious to know why you are smiling as you talk about him and her. I'm wondering if you thought it was all right."

"I'm smiling because of how smooth he is! You have to admire someone who can make everybody, no matter what their station is in life, feel special. He would do that! And smooth is probably an inappropriate word. He could charm the fur off of a mink in the dead of winter and make that mink feel like it was in South Florida in mid-July while walking off! He knew it too! Anyway, I would hear things about them being places but never saw anything again with my own eyes. When I would see her, she would always be cordial. She would speak when I approached her, like that one time, and she gave me the answer I wanted to hear. That was the end of that. So I think she would need to be a part of this idea of yours. She has just as much time and emotion invested in him. At least let's consider asking her."

"How do you think she will react, Essence? I mean, I don't want this to be publicized. Plus I really don't need Mychael D. finding out what we are doing or thinking!"

"Well, Faye, what I will do is try and feel her out to see what she thinks about this idea."

"You can talk with her like that?"

"Yes ... no ... I don't know, but we need to at least find out."

"So, Essence, you think this will be something you want to be a part of now? You know, earlier, you said you weren't willing to share him."

"Let's say I'm amused at the idea. There is nothing like being a little adventurous, and I'm sure this will be an adventure neither of us will ever forget."

"Well, here is my number, Essence, and you can call me anytime."

"Imagine this, me getting your number straight out of your hand and the both of us thinking and scheming to win the same lost love back for us to share. Oh, and by the way, Faye, you think we need to drop those restraining orders against each other?"

"Oh yeah, we definitely need to do that! You just never know what you won't do for love until presented with a situation!"

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Excerpted from His Bachelor's Party by Ronald Reginald King. Copyright © 2016 Ronald Reginald King. Excerpted by permission of iUniverse.
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