A Hustler's Wife Page 14

  Yarni went on to tell the judge that no matter how much jail time she has to end up doing, no time could ever outweigh the punishment of her not being able to complete her studies. The judge took all these things into consideration. He suspended the rest of her time providing she volunteer one hundred hours of her time mentoring teen-agers, report to a probation officer for the next year and not write the judge any more letters.

  Yarni was released from jail that same day. Before she left, she asked the deputy to take her to isolation to see her friend, Zurri. She hugged Zurri, gave her all the canteen she had left over, covered T-shirts and socks along with Gloria's address, and phone number. Zurri was happy to see Yarni leaving and told her she would be going home in a couple of months.

  Yarni had written over twenty letters to the judge and now that chapter of her life was closed!!!

  THE WAKE UP CALL

  While they waited on the paperwork to come over from the courts to the jail so Yarni could be released, the deputy sheriff informed Gloria that it would be approximately three hours before Yarni's discharge.

  Gloria left and went to Regency Square. She brought Yarni a Guess jean outfit along with some Air Max Nike sneakers. She wasn't sure if Yarni would be able to even wear the jeans because she had lost so much weight. Yarni was wearing a size 8 before she went away to jail, so Gloria got one size smaller.

  When Yarni went to court, the outfit she wore was falling off of her.

  It would have been easier for Gloria to go to Yarni and Bengee's house to get some sweatpants or something from there.

  When Yarni called the night before informing Gloria on her court date, she specifically told Gloria not to tell anyone, not even Bengee. Gloria immediately called Ukrop's and ordered a

  "Welcome Home" cake, as well as balloons. She wanted to do more, but she was trying to get back to the jail on time so she could get the deputy to pass the new clothes to Yarni.

  Yarni was in shock riding in the car. She rolled down the window, something she never did because she always rode under air conditioning. Today she wanted to smell fresh air and admire the trees.

  The little things we take for granted and never appreciate, she thought to herself. Her mother took her to Hooters. Yarni loved Hooter's chicken wings. Gloria wanted to spend the rest of the day out with her, but Yarni only wanted to go home and take a long hot bubble bath. Gloria understood, and she took Yarni to Crestar bank to let her cash the check the jail had given her for the balance of her inmate's account. She then dropped Yarni off at home.

  "Mommy, make sure I get in before you pull off. I don't know how Bengee is carrying it since I've been locked up. I hope he hasn't changed the locks. You know how men are. They'll switch up on you in a heartbeat." She said to her mother as if it was a joke, but her mother knew she was serious.

  Gloria tried to be very selective of her response because she didn't want to ignite an argument with her daughter who had already been through enough. "Sweetie, you know you don't have to put up with no man's shit. I've always got a place for you. You're never too old to come home."

  "I know mommy I love you, and thanks for everything. I am sorry for all the heartache and embarrassment I've caused you." Gloria could see the tears forming in Yarni's eyes. "Baby, don't feel bad. Don't start dwelling on the past. You've already paid your debt to society and the bottom line is, it doesn't matter if you'd murdered sixty people. I am still your mother and will always be here for you. You hear me?"

  "Yeah mommy I know. I just hate the fact that you can't live your life due to the fact you always have to come and rescue me from my constant drama."

  "Honey, please. I've got a life and have been living it out to the fullest. Even got a man who loves me and wants to marry me." Gloria boasted as Yarni cut her off in surprise and astonishment.

  "Back up mommy. What do you mean you got a man, who loves you and wants to marry you?" Yarni put her hand on her hip and waited for Gloria's answer.

  "Yeah, Sam and I are dating exclusively and he wants to marry me. I told him I am not sure because I don't know how you'd feel about me divorcing your father after all these years.

  And I..." Yarni interrupted.

  "My father? Mommy, I don't care about you divorcing my father. As far as I'm concerned, you guys were divorced a long time ago. Mommy, I just want more than anything for you to be happy. I would like to meet this 'Sam' person though. You've got to give me the low down on him." Yarni was curious about this mystery man who had her mother glowing.

  "Yarni, he's a good man! Oh, my goodness, he's a God fear-ing man." Yarni could see the exhilaration all over her mother's face "He's wanted to meet you from day one. He's been so supportive to me throughout your whole detention term. I felt accountable because my husband, and my daughter both in jail.

  I blamed myself."

  "Mommy, how dare you point the finger at yourself? You had nothing to do with any of our decisions."

  "I know, baby, but I can't help but wonder where I went wrong?"

  "Mommy, where did you go wrong? I could never ask for a better mother. You were the perfect mother, and don't you dare blame yourself for my poor judgments and mistakes. As a matter of fact, I don't think I'm ever having kids because I could never fill your shoes."

  "Oh, Yarni, that's so sweet." Gloria blushed as she wiped the tears out of her eye.

  "Did you tell Sam that I was in the clinker?"

  "Yeah, I shared it with him. Sam has been by my side. Every single time I came to visit you, he waited patiently in the waiting area with his cell phone and agenda book taking care of his business until I was finished visiting you. I always knew that he had more important things he had to do but he felt being with me right then and there was far more significant than any business proposal. I knew you'd be uncomfortable meeting him under those circumstances, and I promised him that I'd introduce you two when you came home."

  "Mommy, I am so happy for you, and I can't wait to meet him. You deserve this. I am going to call you later to get details because I can't believe you were holding out on me. Right now, I gotta go. Love ya much!" Yarni shut the door and walked up the sidewalk to her house.

  When Yarni reached the door and put her key in, it opened the lock. She walked into the house. The first thing she spotted were her pictures still in place. That's a good sign she thought to herself. She thought again. Pictures of me don't mean shit. That has no bearing on them shiesty hoes. Most of them are just trying to get theirs and cutting throat any way they can. So my picture still being up, what the hell does that mean?

  She walked over to the telephone. The caller ID held eighty numbers. She got a piece of paper out and wrote down every single number. Any number on there two to three times, she put a star by the number. Any number showing up more than three times, she put a question mark beside it. She also put down the names of each person showing on the caller ID, and took the paper and tucked it in the back of her wallet behind a picture of her Godson just in case she might need to recall the numbers at a later date.

  The trash was running over. It was smelling so she took it out.

  Half empty opened Heineken and Corona bottles were all over the house.

  When she looked in the refrigerator there were only beers and sodas. Then she looked in the freezer. It contained frozen, microwavable foods, pizza, Eggo waffles and Hot Pockets; no meat, no veggies. Next, she went into the bedroom and found price tags from new clothes Bengee had bought, empty hangers and plastic from the dry cleaners all over the place. The hamper was running over with dirty boxers, socks and wife beaters.

  In the closet, there were a lot of club gear; Gator boots, Python skin boots, gangsta hats. From the looks of things she could tell he had been going all out on the club tip. He always dressed real classy anyway. Her clothes were exactly how she'd left them. She noticed an Alan Fur's coat bag hanging up and opened it. There was a full-length black sable mink coat dan-gling there. She took the coat out and tried it on. While she was admiring it
in the mirror she noticed that it had been engraved in the inside. To My Yarni, All My Love, Bengee. How sweet she thought to herself. On the closet floor there was a hatbox with a mink hat inside and behind that box, was another one contain-ing a mink collar and the gloves to match. Then she noticed a few Versace suits with the tags still on them. Yarni hugged herself all wrapped up in fur as she admired the coat in the mirror.

  Bengee had been thinking of me while I was away.

  Yarni stripped the sheets off of the bed and replaced them with clean ones. She dusted and vacuumed because she could tell it had only been done once or twice since she'd been gone.

  She cleaned the house thoroughly. She wondered if she'd run across any bobby pins or anything that would indicate a female presence. She went through that house with a fine-toothed comb. She washed his clothes and got the house back in order to her liking. There was not one indication that any female had been there. She even looked under the bed to see if there was any underwear there. She remembered the first time she stayed over Rallo's house. Just to be spiteful, she left her underwear under his bed. She knew how women think. They're scandalous.

  It's their way of saying "Oh yeah, you aren't the only one fucking your man. Here are my panties for the evidence bitch!" What better proof?

  After the house was spotless she lit Glade rain shower scent-ed candles throughout the house and took a hot bubble bath.

  She sat there for a while to try and gather her thoughts. As soon as she got out she wrapped herself in her pale pink terrycloth Victoria's Secret robe. Just then, she heard Bengee coming through the door. He knew immediately that Yarni was home.

  But how did she pull this off? He wondered to himself. He didn't care. He was just glad she was home.

  "Yarni!" There she stood with her robe hanging open with nothing on under it. He dropped his keys, the bags he had in his hand, and his mouth fell open from the sight he had not seen in so long. He picked her up and spun her around. He could smell the scent of the "Exotic Bouquet" Victoria's Secret fragrance as he hugged her tight.

  "I missed you so much." He grinned and brought her closer to engage in a passionate French kiss.

  As his arms were around her, he lowered them and felt her naked, soft, round, tender, smooth "ummp, ummp, ummp" behind. When she placed her arms around his waist, he realized just how much he'd missed her. He started fondling her breast.

  He slowly moved from the breast down to her navel. Bengee dropped her robe on the floor then laid her in front of the wood-burning fireplace. She started to quiver as he kissed her inner thighs. Both could feel the temperature rise and started to feel dizzy. She was trembling about to burst into her climax when Bengee looked into her eyes with burning desire.

  "Please don't stop," She moaned.

  "Hold it baby, please don't cum now. I'm not ready for you to cum yet." He immediately moved from her upper body and proceeded to kiss her knees. He then slowly ran his tongue up and down her calves as he reached his hand to grab her right foot. He eased her Victoria's Secret bootie off and then slid off the left slipper. He slowly and methodically kissed and massaged her feet. The room began to spin as she was blazing with desire. She was yearning for him to insert his large penis. As he entered the tight, wet threshold, she tensed up. "Be gentle with me, baby, you know it hasn't been tampered with in a while," she whispered in a seductive voice.

  He was gentle as he moved in and out, on top of her as he caressed her neck. She moaned closing her eyes trying to enjoy these few moments of pleasure, what she'd been missing while locked away. As he stroked her faster, her eyes popped open while she reached to grab his back trying to hold on. He gazed into her eyes and she into his. She saw tears of passion, tears of love, as he was about to explode.

  "I can't take it no more," Bengee groaned. "I'm about to bust."

  "I don't want you to, baby," she said as Bengee shook his head, with sweat dripping on her as he slowed down until he couldn't hold it anymore. His eyes rolled in the back of his head as he sighed. He laid on top of her for a few minutes, then licked sweat from her dripping, wet body.

  They took a shower together, and Bengee decided he needed a nap. Yarni laid down beside him. He fell off to sleep. Yarni sat in the bed flipping channels. Bengee's eyes popped open at the click, click of the T.V. He felt bad he left her awake. He sat on the edge of the bed, got up and stretched.

  He told her to get dressed so they could go out. Yarni didn't know what to put on. So much weight had fell off of her while she was in the clinker. She knew that the style had changed, so she didn't know what to wear. Then she realized one thing, when she shopped she bought classy attire, not faddish clothes.

  Fads are in today, gone tomorrow. On that note, she dressed.

  Bengee took her to the mall. He wanted to take her out of town to shop, but it was too late. Drive to Georgetown, spend the night, go shopping and come back the next day, was what he suggested. She said "no," she wanted to sleep in her own bed her first night home from the clinker. They could do that the next morning. They ended up going to eat at Outback Steakhouse.

  Bengee watched as she ordered her food and he thought to himself how much he had truly missed the little things about Yarni while she was gone away; her charisma, her bubbly personality as well as her classy ways.

  When they arrived home, Bengee had arranged for the whole living room to be filled up with balloons along with "welcome home" streamers and banners. He had a path of rose ped-als leading to the bedroom. When she reached the bedroom the fireplace was going. He made passionate love to Yarni while lying in front of the fireplace. This was the best sex they'd ever had. After the lovemaking they laid awake in the bed whispering sweet nothings in each other ears. He stressed to Yarni how much he loved her and how she was a soldier. On that word, soldier, she sat up in the bed and gazed dead into Bengee's eyes.

  He hit her with the pillow, to break her crazed gaze.

  "What is it? Why you looking at me like that?" Bengee said.

  "Please don't call me a soldier again. I'll never consider myself a soldier. Soldiers are expendable, and I've long out-grown that position. If you want to address my strengths call me a warrior, a champion or a survivor. But never, ever refer to me as a soldier. No offense taken, just please never call me that again." Yarni laid back down, turned on her side, with her back facing Bengee, and pulled the covers over her shoulders. Bengee put his arm around her.

  "Baby, I apologize. I love you so much. Good night." The next week was almost like a fairy tale. He took her shopping, and spent every second with her. Never did he leave her sight, only to use the restroom. After being up under Yarni for a whole week nonstop, he told her he had an appointment the next morning. She didn't want to go with him. Rest was all she wanted. He told her he'd be back by 1pm, so she needed to be dressed. A long velvet "Gantos" box was what he placed on the bed for her before he left. "Here put this on. We're going to lunch, and I'd like to see you in this." He arrived back earlier than she expected. Laying across the bed watching Yarni get dressed, he fantasized, as she put on her teal Christian Dior thongs with the bra to match. He fantasized about all the good times they had the past week. He loved Yarni so much he wished that he could be the man that she needed and deserved. He wondered to himself. "Damn, I'm a cruddy nigga. How in the world did God manage to bless me with such a submissive woman? He knew in his heart he wasn't deserving of Yarni. He prayed that she'd never draw those conclusions.

  Once Yarni was dressed, he told her that they were going to the Fisherman's Wharf for lunch in Virginia Beach on the water.

  She loved seafood. As they left the house she noticed a SUV

  parked across the street with a big red bow tied around it with thirty-day temporary tags on it. She glanced at the truck, and made the comment of how somebody was blessed to receive a new truck. She mentioned to Bengee, "That must be the new body style Land Cruiser, and it is tight"

  "Yeah, it's the top of the line baby. Only two other people in Richmo
nd got one besides you," Bengee said and handed her the keys, on a key chain that said, "I love you." Bracing herself she was full of astonishment. She'd been given an array of cars, but this was top notch. She jumped in the truck. Bengee had taken it upon himself to stop at Willie's Records and Tapes and purchase all the cd's he thought fit. They were already placed in the cd changer. She displayed her tender thanks with oodles of hugs and kisses.

  "It was the least I could do. You're worthy of more than this.

  That's for sure, sweetness," Bengee said as he kissed her and smiled in a modest way.

  When they reached the Fisherman's Wharf, she caught sight of a chartered bus. "If you want, we can go somewhere else to eat. I know how impatient you are, and it looks as if it may be a lengthy wait," Yarni said.

  "Sweetness, I don't care about a delay as long as I am waiting with you," Yarni said as he kissed her on the forehead. "I love you, baby."

  As they walked in, the hostess immediately took them to a back reserved section. As the door opened she heard voices in a harmony. "WELCOME HOME, YARNI." People started to clap.

  She observed all the familiar faces such as her mother, her aunt and practically her whole family. Her Godson's mother, Cara, was there as well as Rita, the deputy sheriff, Stephanie and loads of friends. Gloria made it known to Yarni that Bengee had arranged everything. The chartered buses to transport everybody to Virginia Beach, the decorations, the guests, the photographer, and paid in full for everything.

  "Yarni," Gloria grabbed her arm, "I'd like you to meet somebody, a dear friend of mine."

  The handsome, light complexion, clean-cut, conservative looking man wearing small, oval shaped brown Fendi frames with freckles on his face interrupted with his deep voice. "Oh, I'm just your friend, huh?"