Devon sat at his desk with his mind focused on Shontay, constantly thinking about how he hurt her when they were in college. He can hardly believe he’s gotten another chance to have her back in his life. All would be wonderful if he wasn’t married to Latonya. He thinks back to the unfaithful night at the frat party. Latonya approached him as she always did, trying to get at him. She knew he and Shontay had been going out since their freshman year but she didn’t care; they were rivals and Latonya wouldn’t like anything better than to spread around campus that she had finally gotten Shontay’s man in the sack. Devon had no intentions of even talking to Tonya but she had played a game and he fell for it hook, line and sinker. After that unfaithful night he had lost Shontay and ended up having to marry Latonya.
Devon’s ringing phone brought him out his trance and the voice on the other line almost made him lose his lunch.
“Devon baby it’s me your wife, why haven’t you return my phone calls? I’ve been calling you all day! My mom is coming over for dinner and I want you to be here, I don’t want to be answering no questions about why you’re not home.”
Devon held the phone for a minute then he mumbled “I’ll be there, is there anything else?”
He knew he might as well let her finish because if he just hung up she’ll just keep calling.
“Why you got to be so mean Devon I am your wife you know.”
Yeah I know’ he thought to himself.
“I’m just busy that’s all Tonya. If that’s all I will see you when I get home and I’ll bring your mom some flowers, I’m sure she would like that.”
“Thanks Devon she would like that. I’ll see you when I get home and baby I love you”
“Ditto.”
He said, hanging up the phone. He wondered how she could always say I love you knowing she was lying through her teeth, she loved the lifestyle he provided her with, but didn’t love him and he sure as hell didn’t love her. He felt like he was living a damn nightmare, Shontay came to his mind again and he smiled.
Latonya was sitting at the kitchen table thinking how her life became this circle it was the same thing day in and day out. The plans she made when she was in college had fallen through. Devon was supposed to go to the NFL but a busted knee senior year of college cancelled all that. By that time they were married because he thought she was pregnant and he had to stand up and do the right thing and she was on cloud nine until she found out he wasn’t going to the NFL. As time went by Tonya didn’t mean to fall in love with Devon but she did and even though he didn’t go to the NFL he was a very successful attorney that handled high profile cases and was being prep to be attorney general. Tonya knew Devon feelings weren’t as strong as hers but she knew he did care and she was determined to make him love her. She thought thank God Shontay got married right after college and moved to New York cause if she was in the picture this would be harder for her to do the things she needed to do, she knew he still loved Shontay and blamed her for their breakup. Tonya did have one good thing going for her, Devon’s father was a pastor and he knew how he felt about divorce and Devon didn’t like disappointing his father. So with that and a couple of tricks she had been cooking up she felt safe not thinking tricks is what got her in this situation in the first place.
Material Love Part Two
Shontay stood at the stove fixing Devon’s favorite meal; she never thought she would get a chance to be with the love of her life again. Marrying after college was a big mistake. Tyson was her best friend and a rebound; thank goodness they ended the marriage still friends. She never thought she would be the other woman but he was the love of her life and he was stolen from her by someone who doesn’t even know the meaning of love.
Devon hated calling Shontay to cancel; the best part of his day was when he got off work and went to Shontay’s for dinner. He loved a home cooked meal something he didn’t get at home well not unless Maria cooked.
Shontay’s sweet angelic voice came on the line and he squeezed the phone knowing this would be the first time in six months that he would not be going home without seeing her first.
“Hello my angel, how are you this evening?”
“I’m doing good baby just finishing up with your dinner what time will you be here I miss you.”
Silence was on the line for a minute and Shontay was getting nervous.
“What’s wrong Von is everything ok?”
“Yeah baby everything is ok I got a call from Tonya today she said her mother is coming over so I won’t be able to come over today. If I don’t show, her mom will be calling my mom by night’s end and I don’t need that. My dad would be calling me right after.”
Shontay didn’t want to let Devon know she was upset she knew this day would come sooner or later and she just had to deal with it so she put on her cheerful voice and told him.
“It’s ok Von, I understand I’ll fix you a lunch plate and you can come and pick it up in the morning on your way to work.”
That was Shontay’s way to make sure she sees Devon. He smiled before he spoke because he knew what she was trying to do, but that was his plan anyway so he just agreed and said his goodbyes. He had to prepare himself for his dinner with his mother-in-law.
Tonya’s doorbell started ringing and ringing and when it would ring like that it wasn’t nobody but her best friend Michelle and she started as soon as she walked in.
“Girl what took you so long to answer the door, you in here acting like you just lost your best friend, and I’m tired of you walking around here like a zombie. If you would have given the man what he wanted you would be fine right now but nooo…you always listening to that money hungry mama of yours now your husband working all kinds of late hours and when he come home he shower and go to bed that isn’t good.”
“Look I didn’t call you over here to badger me about my mother I know how you two feel about each other. I need some advice on how to get him interested in me again, he doesn’t touch me unless I try something and then he still is not all there.”
“Have you tried spending some romantic time with him, fix him a nice dinner with some wine, meet him at the door with nothing but some stilettos on you got to keep it spicy.”
Tonya looked at her for a minute.
“Are you serious me cook what do I know about cooking?”
“Tonya you can cook you just don’t want to, you better get it together before someone else gets it together for you.”
“Girl Devon’s not going anywhere he doesn’t want to disappoint his dad so I’m safe and besides the only person that can cause me problems is married and in another state and probably got some kids so I’m good. Ok Michelle I got to get things together for my mom and order her favorite Italian food.”
“Tonya you better listen to what I say, don’t sleep on this situation with Devon, thinking his dad is going to save you. Because while you’re sleeping somebody is going to take everything you got.”
Material Love Part Three
Latonya heard the front door open but she didn’t move; she didn’t want to seem too anxious since Devon hadn’t been home right after work in a long time. She had put on her nice purple dress the one that caressed her curves in all the right places. Her plan tonight was to seduce her husband. She wished she didn’t have to work so hard to get her husband to notice her but all and all she would do what she had to in order to achieve her main goal. Her thoughts were stopped when she heard her mother’s voice instead of her husbands; she turned around quick fast and in a hurry.
“Mama why did you use the key? I told you Devon doesn’t know you have a key and if he finds out all hell will break loose.” Ophelia rolled her eyes at Tonya then spoke with so much hatred.
“You better watch your mouth when you talking to me! Ain’t nobody studding Devon but you he ain’t gonna do nuthin to me. Besides I knew he wasn’t here, I seen his car was still at his office when I came thru town”.
Tonya cringed at her mother’s broken English. She only talked this way in front of her, in public she was miss perfect. Tonya just didn’t understand.
“Are you ignoring me?” Her mother asked.
“No mama I’m not ignoring you. I just want to have a nice dinner with no fussing or bickering I don’t want to make Devon uncomfortable. You know you two don’t see eye to eye.”
Ophelia looked at her daughter and for the second time she spoke with venom in her voice.
“When the hell did you get so soft I told you to get out of this marriage! Take half and step but no, you want to hang around and for what! He doesn’t care for you and you too dumb and blind to see it!”
Tonya just stood there trying to hold her tears she knew she couldn’t let them fall or let her eyes get watery; her mother was not having that. What Tonya’s momma didn’t know was that Tonya had fallen in love with her husband by mistake but indeed it did happen and she didn’t know how to tell her mother. Her momma wanted her to get a divorce and try and get all the money that she could from Devon so they could live it up.
“LaTonya!” her mother called.
“Yes mother.”
“I told you what you need to do to get out of this marriage with all the money you’ll ever need.”
Tonya thought about what her mother said. She knew if she did what her mother suggested it would be for another reason and that would be to keep her husband and not to leave him but she would never tell her mother this. Even though they had a love-hate relationship, her mother had always been there for her whether it was bad or good advice she gave, she was always there.
Devon appeared out of no where. She didn’t hear him come in and she was startled. She hoped he had not overheard their conversation, although he had this strange look on his face. But as soon as he looked at Ophelia he put on his fake smile. He took a deep breathe, knowing this was going to be a long night.
Glad I brought me some BC powder, he thought to himself.
Material Love Part Four
“Hello Ophelia how are you today you’re looking lovely as ever.”
Looking at Tonya out the corner of his eye. This was making him sick; he was so tired of pretending he didn’t know what to do.
“So I see you brought your wife some flowers how nice.”
“Actually they are for you; I thought you would like some pretty flowers on this pretty evening.”
“Evening don’t you mean night, evening has been long gone and no you thought wrong; I don’t want any flowers from you. Your wife is the woman you need to be buying flowers for you think I’m stupid but I’m not. I know you haven’t been coming home until wee hours of the morning and my daughter didn’t tell me. I have other ways to find out what’s going on up in here.”
Devon stood there for a moment trying to contain his thoughts, he started pacing back and forth, he so much wanted to go off on this old hag but this was his wife mother and his elder and if his father found out he was being disrespectful to his elder he would be in a world of trouble. Before he could turn around and face his mother- in- law his wife was in his face with her pleading eyes. She knew he wouldn’t be disrespectful but he would give her an ear full of his nice nastiness.
“Mother please don’t speak to my husband in that manner he hasn’t done anything to you he was trying to be nice and this is how you treat him?”
Devon stepped back he couldn’t believe his ears little miss princess taking up for him this must be some kind of game they running. Tonya never goes against what her mother says so what the hell is going on he thought to himself.
Ophelia looked like she could have split her daughter in half
“How dare you speak to me in that tone! Girl I brought you into this world and I will surely take you out of it. All I have done and sacrificed for you. You better realize who’s always going to be there for you because it surely isn’t your dear husband; he could care less about you.”
Devon had had enough.
“It’s time for you to leave Ophelia if you can’t respect us more than this in our home then you must leave.”
Ophelia turned around like I know this motha just didn’t try and dismiss me like that, that’s alright this is my daughter house too and I know she won’t tell me to leave. sheshe thought to herself.
“This is my daughter house too and if she wants me to stay then I’m staying. Baby girl do you want momma to go or do you want me to stay?’’
Tonya didn’t want to go against her mother but she was on a mission and she had to do what she had to do to get closer to her husband. I’ll just call momma tomorrow and smooth things over then she thought to herself.
“Mother, I agree with Devon I think you should leave and we’ll talk about this later when everyone cools down if that is fine with you.” still trying to please her mother as much as she could.
Ophelia looked Tonya straight in the eyes.
“You dare go against me for this low budget attorney how dare you! Well I tell you what when your world comes crumbling down don’t call me.”
Ophelia was walking to the door with her head held high, then she suddenly stopped and turned around with a wicked grin on her face.
“Um and by the way missy ask your loving husband what keeps him out in the wee hours of the morning” then she smirked and said “OPPS did I just say that” and open and slammed the door behind her.
Tonya quickly turned around and looked at Devon. He tried to clear his face as fast as he could to prepare himself for the question he knew she would ask.
“What is she talking about Devon?”
And now the shit hits the fan…
Material Love Part Five
“What is my mother talking about why is she acting like she knows something I don’t?”
Tonya looked at Devon and asked again. Devon had to think fast because he also wanted to know what the hell Ophelia was talking about. Did she really know something or was she just running off at the mouth. He knew he had to play his cards right until he knew for sure.
“Look Tonya I don’t why you let your momma pull your chains like that. She just mad at you for standing up for me, what’s up with that anyway you never go against your mother?”
“I stood by you because that’s what I’m suppose to do. It just took me some time to figure that out. I want to make this thing work between us to let you know that I love you and wanted us to start over but after this I’m not sure. If there’s one thing about my mother, it’s that she does not make ideal threats. If she talking about turning her back on me it’s for real! So I’ll ask you again what the HELL is my mother talking about and don’t lie to me!”
“Don’t lie to you! What the hell do you mean don’t lie to you! I don’t know what your crazy ass momma is talking about, but what I do know is that I work late so you can live this lovely life that you so graciously live. You don’t want to work so you stay home or shop, you don’t want to cook so we got a cook, you don’t want to clean so we got a maid and…”
“And what Devon, how about you don’t like to fuck so how are we going to fix that you going to find some one to handle that too?”
She was hot how dare he try and put her down, he’s the man; the head of the house isn’t that what he’s suppose to do, provide for me and hell I do deserve the best. Tonya didn’t want things to end this way she wanted to seduce her husband and tell him that she would finally give him what he’s been longing for, for so long ‘a baby’. He has asked her so many times she stopped counting, afraid of loosing her gorgeous figure and loosing her freedom to go and come as she pleased. She had refused him, but now she knew that’s what could save her marriage. Devon walking away brought her back to the matter at hand.
Lord what am I to do, I’m in a marriage where I am not happy and can’t stand to be here but I would loose so much if I walk out my house, money, cars and my relationship with my father. He is hell bent on no divorce, hell what do people do when they’re just not happy. I don’t know how much longer I can go on with this charade and if Ophelia really knows something I’m really in trouble. Lord, if you have any favor for me, please help me sort this mess out. I know I’m not totally doing right, but I need some kind of happiness in my life what else is there for me to do.
He continued to pray until Tonya busted in the door.
“Oh you want to run when your ass is in the hot seat! We can talk about me, but we can’t talk about your short comings which makes me think working late, no sex, my momma putting you on blast! This is all becoming clearer to me.”
She fumed.
“All I’m going to say is that if I find out you are seeing someone else, I will take your ass for everything you got!” As she said those words the words of her best friend rang in her ear, “you going to wake up and someone is going to take every thing you got!”
Latonya asked a question but do you think she can handle the answer???
Omg sister i love, that book material love i dont think she can handle the answer. I must get a credit card
Material Love is an online story more parts coming soon… So this is free to my readers to keep them until my novels come out!!!…glad you enjoyed!!!….Mahogany Blues is an online story to.