In His Arms

They walked slowly back toward North Union Street, window-shopping along the way and stepping inside some of the stores that were still open. They paused in front of the art galleries and a couple of advertisements to talk about the pieces using their newly acquired knowledge from class.

Rashad had taken Michelle’s hand, and she took his arm as they strolled. She pointed out the mosaic and beadwork studio that belonged to her cousin’s wife, and Rashad wanted to go in—mainly to meet some of her family but also because the pieces were fabulous. Unfortunately, it was late enough that the studio was closed. They would have to come back another day.

This time, when they got to Michelle’s Ford Fiesta, Rashad took her in his arms and pressed her body against his. He expected her to hesitate after their conversation, but she lifted her arms to his neck, smiling, and tipped upward on her toes to meet his lips.

The soft pressure of her lips and the floral aroma of her perfume filled his senses, and the way her curves pressed against him made his body rigid. When they broke from the most sensual kiss he had ever had, Rashad teetered back, drunk on the moment.

“Was that as good as kissing a married woman?” Michelle asked.

“That was infinitely better,” he said and let out a long, shaky breath, his body wanting more.

Michelle gasped and looked at her watch.

“Oh, no. I’m going to be late getting my son.”

“How long do you have?”

“Fifteen minutes.”

“Let’s go. You’ll be late five minutes, at most. Honk if I get too far ahead of you.”

Rashad turned toward his car, turned back to give Michelle one more brief kiss and they were off.

Chapter 5

Michelle stuck her hand inside the vase she had finished painting and handed it to Regina to go in the kiln.

“The flowers are done on this one.”

“They’re beautiful. Are you sure you don’t want to be an artist?”

“I’m sure I do want to be an artist, and I want to apply it to advertising.”

“I stand corrected. You’ll do wonderfully.”

“Thank you for the support. I need it.”

“No, you don’t. You’re doing great.”

Michelle painted in her spare time and sometimes did ceramics with her cousin Nigel’s wife, Regina. It even brought in a bit of change for her now and then. But she did it because she loved it and because it was great to practice on something real, something that would be used.

She had this Saturday off from the coffeehouse, so she spent the morning doing homework and the rest of the day at Regina’s, where Andre got to paint a piece of his own. He would be staying the night with Nigel and Regina because Michelle had a date—a real Saturday date—with Rashad. She had only been about five minutes late the Wednesday before last, when she had stayed after class to have dinner, but she didn’t want to risk being late after class anymore, and a Saturday gave them real time to spend together. Still, she hesitated.

“Are you sure you’ll be okay with Andre tonight? You have little Sharon, as well, and she’s only twelve months.”

“Yes, Michelle. We’ve had him overnight before. He’ll be fine with us. Go out for a change.”

“I don’t know.”

“It’s been over two years since your divorce, and you haven’t seen anyone. Don’t go from a wildflower to a weed. It’s okay to have a life.” Regina got close to her, ignoring her hesitation. “Is he cute?”

Michelle couldn’t stop the smile that spread across her face. Regina gasped.

“He is! Tell me.”

“Well, actually, he’s a bit like Nigel. Not in looks, but in character. He’s always doing something nice, and he’s sweet and he’s talkative.”

And he has no idea what a wild girl I used to be or how horrible my marriage was. Michelle thought those things, but she didn’t say them. It would have been admitting her flaws, and she didn’t want to say them out loud, not even to her supportive cousin-in-law. Oh, and he’s only dated casually. But we have that cleared up, I think.

“And he’s as handsome as all get-out. It should be illegal to look as good as he does.”

“Uh-huh. Sing it, sister. That never hurt,” Regina said and chuckled.

“Oh, I don’t know.”

“Yes, you do. You go on and have a good time. It’s been a while, so take it slowly, but it’s time to get out there again. Don’t wait until college is over and then until your career is off the ground and then until Andre is grown and then until whatever it is. It will never be finished until you’re finished. Nigel and I can watch Andre more, especially now that Sharon is here. And you watch Sharon for us more than enough. Let us do a little for you, too.”

“You both do...so much for me. I don’t know how to thank you.”

“You just did, and you always do. Now go on. Get made up and hit the town.”

“It’s just dinner and a movie.”

But Michelle smiled nevertheless. She was excited to go out with Rashad—for real.

“Where are you going?”

“I don’t know. He says I haven’t seen D.C. in the two years I’ve been here, and he wants me to see some of it. But we’re starting with the basics.”

Michelle had washed her hands and was gathering up her purse.

“I’m going to pop upstairs and see Andre before I go.”

“Sure,” Regina said, shooing her toward the door. “But don’t take long.”

“I won’t.”

After checking on Andre, Michelle hopped in her car and went home to get ready for the evening. She didn’t have anything fancy, but it was only a movie, so something nice would do.

She was ready when Rashad buzzed her doorbell at six.

“Come in. The downstairs door is open, and I’m upstairs on the right.”

In moments he appeared at her open door.

“Is that safe—for the downstairs door to be unlocked?”

“I don’t know, but it always has been.”