More Than A Four Letter Word by Stephanie Jean Smith Read Free Book Online

shuts the door
behind her. He heads for the door when he hears Aunt Helen calling
him back. “Let her go Junior, she’s has a lot of things on her
shoulders.”
    “ All of us have a lot on our
shoulders. First, we find out Roberta has Leukemia and Clarissa
doesn’t have the same father. She’s always been there for me, and I
want to do the same for her. It doesn’t matter to me that we don’t
have the same father.”
    “ What’s your point baby?
Clarissa is still the same whether you have the same father or not.
Rissa has to deal with her feelings before she can move on. We have
to give her the space she needs.”
    “ You and I see that Aunt
Helen, but how does Rissa view the situation. I’m afraid that if we
give Rissa too much time to think about things, she’ll decide that
she doesn’t need us at all.”
    ***

Chapter 5
    Clarissa spent most of Sunday morning in her
guest bedroom. She replays the scene at her parents’ house
constantly in her mind. Still emotionally numb from the betrayal of
her sister and Lawrence. She wonders more than once how would she
feel if Roberta was pregnant by Lawrence. Clarissa realizes that
she doesn't love Lawrence, not enough to marry him after his
indiscretions. Maybe Roberta did her a whopping favor. In her mind,
it's her sister's betrayal causing her so much pain.
    It's noon, way past time for her to get out
of bed. She doesn't miss church often, but she always has a good
reason when she does. The only positive thing to come out of this
weekend is Julian Ross's job offer. "Uhmm, Julian." Clarissa
thought about the sexually intense, imposing, handsome, arrogant
man. She concludes that he is responsible for sending the damaging
photos of Lawrence to her office.
    To her chagrin, Julian can mesmerize her and
not even be in the room. She thought about calling Julian several
times this weekend and accepting his offer of a job in Chicago. If
she accepts the job, she would have to make something clear to
Julian. No matter how attractive the package she would not engage
in an affair with her boss.
    Who knows, this position may be the exact
thing she needs at an impossible time in her life. She has a few
weeks to ensure that the transition went smoothly for her
employees. With her skills in computer programming, architectural
design, and hacking, she has viable skills in any industry.
    The doorbell starts ringing, pulling Clarissa
out of her reverie. The last thing she wants is company. Both her
cell phone and landline keep ringing incessantly until she turns
them both off. She doesn't want to talk to Raymond, and she's never
going to return Lawrence's phone calls. She sits there quietly
hoping that her unwelcome visitor would go away. Whoever it is
refuses to go away, he or she just keeps ringing the doorbell.
Clarissa decides that the person on the other side of that door is
going to be sorry.
    Clarissa yanks the door open only to find her
father standing there. “Daddy! What are you doing here?” Her
father, a tall man, with exquisite chocolate skin, and piercing
brown eyes. He has always been her hero. With his help, she's been
winning life's little battles. He's been her fail-safe in times
when she couldn't see the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.
She looks at him with sorrowful eyes; instead of the larger than
life father she’s known her whole life. He appears as a wounded
soldier seeking refuge.
    Raymond Marks smiles at his oldest daughter.
He wishes he could take the pain away from her mother’s admission
yesterday. “Are you going to let me in or do I have to visit with
you in the hallway?”
    Clarissa kisses her father on the cheek as
she lets him into her condominium. “Where’s everyone else?”
    “ I want to speak with you
alone. I have a feeling that your mother and Aunt Helen didn’t
answer all of your questions.” Raymond sits down on the sofa and
waits for Clarissa who slowly makes her way into the living
room.
    “ I do have some questions
for you,”