An Angel for Ms. Right (5 page)

She and Adam smiled at the sentiment.

“Then, one day, he just stopped – everything. He would go away on business for days at a time, he would not come home for dinner, he would barely make it to any dance recitals I had or plays I was involved in. After awhile, I stopped participating in the activities altogether. It was not the same without his big smile prompting me to do my best. First, my mother became a sad recluse, crying herself to sleep every night. Then she became a nightmare, almost tyrannical in trying to get me to go out with boys from rich, prestigious families. Trying to make me dress a certain way and act so out of my character I practically ran away after my high school graduation. I have not been home much since then. She calls me every week to beg me to come home, which I try to avoid like the plague because I know there will be some lawyer’s kids or some guy in pre-med waiting for me as soon as I step foot in the house. I can’t even tell you the last time I spoke to my father. He’s never there when I get home and he calls me only whenever it’s convenient for him. I know how the other students talk about how much money we have and how much my father donates to this school. But it means nothing when the people you trust to love and to care for you are the ones who are killing your spirit.”

Denise dropped her head and closed her eyes tightly to avoid the shedding of any more tears tonight. Adam returned the sentiment she gave him earlier. He said nothing, only held her before finally speaking.

“It’s okay, Denise. I’m here now, for as long as you want. I hope you feel the same for me.”

“I do. I promise I do.”

He settled back onto the couch and she lay on top of him. The emotional cleansing of the evening proved to be more than either was ready for. Denise nestled into his strong and loving arms, and Adam welcomed her tender embrace and the two succumbed to the sleep calling to them.

One week later and the pair were on a Saturday morning train headed toward Philadelphia Suburban Station. They had spent the last week barely five feet away from one another. Denise helped Adam to get a firm grasp on the topics she was sure would be covered on the midterm and Adam was the pillow of support that Denise needed in her life.

“Are you sure your Mom won’t mind me showing up unannounced like this?”

Denise rested her head on his strong shoulder while they rode in the cab toward her home on the outskirts of Chestnut Hill. No matter how many times she ran her petite hands along the length of his wide arms, she always broke out into a moist sweat as she marveled at how powerful they felt. He could easily lift her with one arm, and had already done so on several occasions to her delight.

“She may, but I want you there with me.”

“It would have been nice if you would have told me this before I came,” he smiled into her hair. The silkiness of her waves turned him on beyond belief and he pulled her into a fiery kiss before the cab driver announced they had arrived at their destination.

Denise paid the fair and tipped the man and Adam kept solemnly quiet during the exchange. He had not yet overcome the embarrassment that beset him when she paid for food or services but he said nothing to Denise.

Denise slid out of the back of the car and her rose pink sun dress lifted in the slight April breeze. Not noticing his slight change in mood, Denise grabbed his hand and pulled him from the back seat and Adam was immediately taken aback by the size of the Right estate. While he went to the back of the vehicle to pull the luggage from the trunk, he noted that there were no less than four floors, not including what appeared to be the attic at the very pinnacle of the house, and at least twenty arched windows in the front of the bricked mansion. As the taxi pulled away, Adam noted the property also included a wraparound drive way that encircled the width of the house and most of the front lawn before disappearing behind the home.

Denise sensed his apprehension and smiled up at him. This calmed his heart from stammering. He had made sure to wear his best pair of Dockers and a crisp polo shirt and had even combed his spiky locks back somewhat so that his hair lay neatly upon the crown of his head. He had no idea what awaited him on the other side of this door and wanted to be prepared.

The moment the massive oak door slid back he knew he would be in for some major issues before the day was done. Denise and her mother immediately took combatant stances at once another.

Patricia Right was a tall, lean woman. Adam guessed she was in her fifties based upon Denise’s age but the woman did not look a day over thirty-five. Her sleek dark hair was pulled up into a sever bun on top of her head. She wore a two-piece peach pants suit and it hugged her feminine curves so well he was sure it was tailor-made to her exact measurements. Her high-heeled shoes were the exact peach color of her outfit and she had tiny white pearls piercing her earlobes and strung on a thin necklace around her neck. Had it not been for the persistent scowl on her face made up with a light powder foundation and burgundy lipstick and matching eye shadow, she would have been an strikingly handsome woman and Adam had no doubt she was the one from whom Denise received her good looks.

Adam could feel the distain for him rolling off of Mrs. Right in waves. Subconsciously, he glanced down to ensure he was presentable. When he looked back up, he saw that Patricia Right had given him the once over to confirm the same.

“Tell your
friend
, to take the bags upstairs to your room. I will have another room prepared for
him.
” The last word rolled off her tongue with a hint of mockery.

Adam spoke to Denise over his shoulder as he unpacked his belongings in the room Denise’s mother showed him before disappearing again.

“It doesn’t matter,” she said as she placed her small arms around his thick waist and leaned up to kiss him on the cheek, “I do.”

He turned in her arms and swiped her long bang from her face to around her right ear.

He smiled before saying, “You were not kidding about your dad not being here. We have been here since noon and I have not heard a peep in this house other than you and me.”

“Yeah, I know,” she said as she turned away, “now, imagine being a fourteen year old kid in a house this quiet for hours on end. It’s was enough to drive a sane person such as myself a little nutty.”

“Come here,” he drawled and dragged her back away from the door and toward the bed.

“Adam, my mom might here us.”

No sooner than the words left her mouth, he covered her lips with his own and pulled her on top of him. He ran his fingers through her long waves and then moved his hands down her back and to her rounded bottom and squeezed hard. Denise squirmed with delight as she ran her hands down the front of his shirt and allowed them to slip under. Her hands probed until she found his pert nipples and gave them a squeeze of her own in return.

A second later, the doorbell chimed and Patricia raced passed the open doorway of Adam’s room.

“Next time, please close the door, thank you,” she snipped without bothering to turn her head toward the stunned couple.

Denise ran her fingers through her hair in an effort to comb it down while Adam straightened his shirt and adjusted his pants, and willed his hard member to go flaccid once again.

Denise was the first person down the stairs with high hopes her father had finally arrived home. The elation in her heart at the possibility of laying eyes on him after several months of constantly missing him while on her return visits home suddenly fizzled. As she approached the entrance to the foyer it dawned on her a person who lived here would not need to use the doorbell unless the locks had been changed.

As her mother stepped to the side to allow another visitor into the entryway, Denise’s breath caught in her mouth.
Kenneth.

He stood tall and firm in a royal blue three piece suit. His ebony skin contrasted with the brilliant whiteness of his shirt. Dazzling white teeth shown through broad brown lips. Cocoa colored eyes lit up the minute he set eyes on Denise.

“Denise. It is so good to see you,” he said as he stepped to her in two long steps and pulled her into his arms.

Not sure what to do and caught in the suddenness of his presence, Denise forced a return hug and then allowed her arms to fall to the sides as she stepped back from him and next to Adam.

She turned and looked into his green eyes, now somewhat paler than usual, and shook her head to acknowledge ignorance of the situation.

Her mother, who watched the scene with a thin smile on her face felt it necessary to enlighten Adam whose face, she surveyed, had turned to stone with a hint of anger.

“Denise, you remember Kenneth, don’t you? After all, you two were inseparable before you went off to the university.”

Kenneth continued to smile down at Denise. Under his intense gaze, she felt a little intimidated and stepped further into Adam’s side, and hooked her arm into his. She felt his arm muscles tense. She looked up and saw the line of his jaw harden and then twitch. After looking over the where Kenneth stood, she understood the sudden adjustment in Adam’s demeanor. The two men were squaring off and, being only an arm’s length from one another, each waited for the other to make the first move. The two were almost matched in build, though Adam was slightly taller and wider. Denise knew that she had to defuse the situation before one of them actually did make a strike.

“Yes, mother, I remember Kenneth,” she said while watching the two men, never taking her eyes from them. “You didn’t tell me he would be coming for a visit tonight.”

“Well, dear, you did not inform me you were bringing a guest either. I guess that makes us even?”

Denise would deal with her mother soon enough. Right now, she needed to attend to once crisis at a time.

“Kenneth, it has been such a long time. I want you to meet my, uh, friend from school, Adam Aggeliki.”

At her words, Adam snapped his head in her direction. She was sure they had become much more but had not bothered to put a label on their relationship and Denise did not want to bind him to anything without his consent.

“Nice to meet you, Adam Angel, is it? I am Kenneth Houser.”

“Aggeliki,” Adam accepted the other man’s hand as he corrected him, “likewise.”

While the rivals cooled their heels somewhat, Denise took this opportunity to move on to the next situation that needed her attention.

“Mother, may I talk with you in private for a moment?”

“Why, dear? Anything you want to say to me, you can say in front of Kenneth. He
is
practically part of the family now. He visits you every time you come home. Actually, I thought the two of you had become much more than friends by now. That is until
today
.” Patricia let the last comment hang in the air for everyone to digest.

Although Denise still held on to his arm, she did not feel Adam respond to her touch. His arm was at this side, though his muscles remained tense with Kenneth so close.

“Mother, why are you playing these games?”

“Denise, you are the only one playing games. If you are leading this young man on in seriously believing there is a future for the two of you, I suggest you stop it at once.”

“Mother, what are you saying? You don’t even know Adam. He’s a good man.”

“That’s what they are all
say
, dear. This young man obviously has no idea how to present himself when he enters a home such as ours. What does he do for a living? Where is his car? What do his parents do? I have no idea what kind of man he is. Kenneth, however,
is
a good man. He has a wonderful job, a fabulous home, and that gorgeous car waiting outside. He adores you, Denise, if you would only open your eyes to acknowledge his sentiment. And – and,” she hesitated at admitting the final statement, “he’s black.”

“Mother, how could you! Would you listen to yourself? You sound insane!”

“No,” Adam slowly removed Denise’s arm from the crook of his, “your mother is right, Denise. She has no idea who I am, and neither do you. I won’t stay in our family home any longer because I will not disrespect you or your mother, and I fear I will do just that if I stay.”

“Adam, no, I – I”

“Denise, it’s okay. I understand. I should go. I guess I will see you back at the campus. I can get the train back, just bring my things with you and I can pick-up them up when you return. I can’t stay here any longer.”

He rushed to the door and as he opened to leave, he turned and faced Mrs. Patricia Right.

“To clarify, ma’am, my parents are deceased. I don’t have all the luxuries that you mentioned because I go to school on a scholarship and I work off and on part-time so I can help support my little brother who currently lives with our grandmother. I hope those answers satisfy all of your questions. It crossed my mind that Denise’s home life could not have been as bad as she explained; now I see she was absolutely correct to stay away from here as much as possible. Have a good evening.”