Gingerly Love



Selena rushed to the door and rang the doorbell, hoping her father would answer before Rianna got there with her key. It was a game Selena always enjoyed playing. However, Nick didn’t answer the door. Rianna opened it instead.

“Where’s Daddy? Huh? Maybe he’s sleeping. Think he’s sleeping?” Rianna asked her young daughter, Selena went skipping through the house calling for her father.

“Momma, Daddy left the lights on in the pool again.” Rianna followed her to the back door and every light was on. She turned them all off so that everything was dark. She saw something shiny on one of the pool side chairs reflecting the moonlight. It was a cell phone, not Nick’s, but Ginger’s.

“Mm, how’d this get over here?” She led Selena back into the house. Then instructed her to go up to her room and get ready for bed while she went to return Ginger’s phone. Rianna decided not to go the front way, that it was quicker to go through the back near the beach. The gate was open, which was unusual.

Since they were such close friends, Rianna let herself in the back door, it was open so she didn’t see any reason why she should have to knock. There was music being played in one of the bedrooms upstairs. She figured Ginger was painting again, because she always played that type of music for inspiration.

She pushed the door of the bedroom open. There they were. She could see the muscles in Nick’s back flex as he made love to Ginger. She could see Ginger’s long nails raking through Nick’s dirty blonde hair. For that split second, she refused to believe that it was her husband in bed with her friend.

But she recognized Nick’s moan. His breathing pattern. And when the phone fell from her hand and hit the hardwood floor, Nick turned and she saw his face. Confirming that it was him.

“No! No!” She screamed, crying almost immediately. Nick reached under the sheets, pulled up his boxers, and got out of the bed. Ginger just sat up trying to look innocent, covering herself.

“I can explain, Baby! Just wait a minute.” He approached her but she swung at him to keep him away. He tried to come close again, but she hit him in the side of his face.

“Don’t you dare touch me! Don’t even come near me! You disgust me! And you! You slut.....you dirty slut! I...I thought you were my friend!” Rianna felt like throwing up. She held her stomach and backed out of the room. Tears soaking her face. She ran down the stairs and back to their home. She ran to their room and locked the door behind herself.

She began pacing, back and forth. Mumbling to herself that it wasn’t real. It couldn’t be real. Nick would never cheat on her. He was a loyal and loving husband. A father. A good person. How could he?

“This is just not happening. This can’t be happening.” Nick knocked on the door.

“Rianna, please let me in, Baby. We need to talk about this.” Rianna picked up a crystal vase filled with the rosesand threw it at the door.

“I don’t wanna talk to you! I don’t wanna see you!” Nick rested his head on the door, crying as well himself. Selena came out of her room frightened. She looked up at her father standing outside of the door of the bedroom.

“Why is Momma crying?” She asked sweetly in her small voice.

“Daddy did a bad thing, sweetheart.” He wiped his eyes and looked down at her.

“I want you to go to bed, honey. Please. Daddy and Momma have to talk. And it’s time for little girls to be in bed now anyway. Ok?” He patted her on the back and sent her back to her room.

“Rianna, please let me in. Sel doesn’t need to hear this.” Rianna swung the door open, startling Nick on the outside.

“You’re right. She doesn’t need to hear your bullshit, and neither do I.” She turned back and went into their closet, throwing various articles of her clothing into a small suitcase. She zipped it closed, then went into Selena’s room. Selena was standing in her bathroom brushing her teeth when her mother came in like a whirlwind.

“When you finish that sweetie, put your shoes on. We’re going on a little trip.” Selena rinsed her mouth of the toothpaste and found her shoes. Rianna threw some of her daughter’s clothes in an even smaller suitcase and carried both down the stairs. Nick followed her, trying to think of something to say to make her stay.

“I’m sorry. I was drunk. I wasn’t thinking straight. You have to believe me. She seduced me.” Rianna stopped and turned.

“Oh she did? That’s funny, cause I try to seduce you every single night and nothing! She puckers up her fat lips once and you jump into bed with her!” Rianna argued back.

“We’re married. You can’t just walk out like this. We’re supposed to work these kinds of things out.” Nick responded.

“Married? MARRIED? This is not a marriage. We never talk anymore. We don’t spend any time with each other anymore. We never make love. And we argue all of the time. Nick, if it weren’t for that beautiful little girl that I share with you, this so-called ‘marriage’ would be long over!” Selena came down the stairs and they stopped arguing.

“Come on sweetie. We don’t want to be late.” She took Selena’s hand and they started out for the car.

“Rianna stop! Please.” He wrapped his arms around her, holding her tightly. “I love you. I love you so much. Just don’t go. Not yet.” Rianna didn’t hug him back. She could smell too much of Ginger on him. Her perfume, the incense in her house.

“Let go.” She demanded. Nick let her go and she left out of the house with their daughter. Nick stood there still as the car sped away.


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