Sex in the Sanctuary by Lutishia Lovely Read Free Book Online Page B

children playing, Derrick and Vivian enjoyed some time alone.
    Relaxing in the den, Vivian studied her husband a moment. “You were quiet at dinner.”
    “I talked to King.”
    Vivian waited. Derrick remained silent.
    “What’s going on?” she finally prompted.
    Derrick hesitated. “He’s seeing somebody.”
    Vivian sat up, more attentive. “Seeing somebody?”
    Derrick stood and slowly paced the room. “Yes, King’s having an affair.”
    Vivian sat back, closed her eyes. “Not again.”
    “Yes,” Derrick said, rejoining her on the couch. “Again.”
    “With who? Don’t tell me one of the members.”
    “I don’t know. He didn’t say much. I didn’t either. Except to tell him to end it, think of his family.”
    “Oh, Tai,” Vivian whispered, thinking again of how distracted her friend had sounded when they talked earlier. “I’ll call her,” she said to Derrick.
    “Let her bring it up, though,” Derrick cautioned. “Getting in the middle of this…”
    “I know, you’re right,” Vivian said. “When she’s ready, she’ll tell me about it.”
    Derrick reached over and hugged her tightly. “We’re blessed, baby.”
    “Yes,” said Vivian, returning his embrace. “Blessed.”

Mama can usually smell that coming
    “Missed ya at church Sunday.” Mama Max’s stare was speculative and penetrating as she gazed at her daughter-in-law over a cup of coffee. “Feeling better?”
    “Not really,” Tai replied, leaning forward to refill her cup from the carafe on the living room table. Mama Max remained silent. So did Tai. They both sipped their coffee, each deep in thought. Finally, Mama Max drained her cup, cleared her throat, placed the cup down on the table, leaned back and folded her hands across her stomach. She turned to eye Tai with compassion.
    Tai felt her stare. “I can’t go on like this, Mama Max. Before, the babies were small, I was younger; things were different. I was different.”
    “Different how?”
    “Stronger, more positive. Before, I felt like each woman was one of the devil’s little flies and I was the fly swatter. I don’t feel like swattin’ anymore. I’m tired. So the flies are just buzzing around and around, getting on my last nerve.”
    “You know I talked to King,” Mama Max replied, againfilling her cup, adding two teaspoons of sugar and a generous helping of cream before continuing. “And he tells me there’s nothing going on between him and that Hope girl.”
    “Famous last words…”
    “Maybe, but do you think it’s possible that there isn’t anything happening, that you’re imagining things because of how active the girl is in the church, how enthusiastic she is about the ministry? Now, I admit she’s a bit feisty and she could let out the hem of those skirts an inch or two, but, baby, she’s never given me a reason to believe that something was actually going on with her and my son. And you know Mama can usually smell that kind of thing coming.”
    “Well, something’s going on,” Tai replied, then walked over to the big picture window that almost covered the entire front wall. She watched the neighborhood children playing with abandon, unable to remember how such innocence felt. She turned back to Mama Max and crossed her arms. “King is different, and he’s been this way for a while. It’s nothing major; it’s the small things, things that only someone who’s been with him as long as I have and loved him as much as I do would recognize. “And,” Tai added, smiling at Mama Max, “I can smell pretty good myself.”
    “Look, I’m not one to doubt a wife’s intuition. I’ve been right about something with only a feeling to go on too many times. I was just thinking that…” Mama Max’s voice trailed off, and she took another small sip of coffee.
    “Thinking what?” Tai quizzed.
    “Well, I know with the twins in school you’ve had more time on your hands, feeling a bit, less involved. Trying to find your place again. In the