The Fog Above The Trees
She could tell that her son was smitten. Ms. Ella was determined to nip it in the bud, and if she had to send the woman away with her young son in tow, she would do just that with no regrets, even though Ms. Ella had promised a very special friend that she would keep her granddaughter and great grandson safe. She wasn't going to allow her son to be reckless. Not on her watch.
"Who are the flowers for?"
"Mom! What are you doing up so late? Isn't it your bedtime?"
"Don't worry about me son. What are you doing outside my house in the middle of the night? You should be home with Lori and Carl. Give me those flowers and get!" She snatched the flowers from out of her son's hands and swatted him with the bouquet upside his head. The petals sprinkled around his shoulders. "GET!"
Ms. Ella prayed night and day as Michonne's belly grew. From her kitchen window, she could see Michonne busying about in the trailer that was in the backyard about 100 yards from Ms. Ella 's home. No way of denying she was expecting. Ms. Ella couldn't bring herself to ask her son. She didn't want to accuse him and be wrong and risk him not speaking to her for another year. Ms. Ella wasn't deaf to the whispers throughout the small town. When the whispers did reach her, it was always a different name attached on to who the father could be. She just hoped it wasn't her son Rick when the whispers reached her.
Rick was one of 15 sheriff deputies, and he had been on the force for over 12 years and was recognizable throughout the community. He was friendly enough. More aloof than anything. The women would occasionally throw themselves at him. He didn't give into temptation because his home life was good and he didn't need any complications. Complications were Shane's area of expertise. Rick strived for peace. Rick contentment fed into his marriage of sixteen years. He was a proud parent of a 12-year-old son named Carl. They lived by a routine, and that was fine by him.
Wake up. Wash up. Eat. Take Carl to School. Go to work. Pick Carl up if Lori couldn't. Go home. Eat. Wash up. Go to Sleep, unless it was a Wednesday or Saturday night. Those two nights meant sex. Sex, twice a week every other week. He felt like he was a lucky man compared to some of the stories he heard out there from his partners who were lucky for once a month.
His wife surprised him when she changed the routine to twice every week. Wednesday and Saturday night. She wanted to get pregnant. She wanted another baby. She wanted a girl. She stopped taking the pill and for the last year no luck.
"Rick! Wake up. It's Wednesday. Rick wake up."
"Can I get a rain check? I am exhausted." Rick was tired. This was something he wasn't going to be able to juggle much longer.
"It's Wednesday. You were tired last Saturday. You had a headache last Wednesday. Plus I have on that sexy nightie that you like so much."
Rick opened one eye and took a look at the flimsy material that once use to stir his loins, but in his current state, he was just not in the mood. Not even a little. He closed that one eye and buried his head back into his pillow on his side of the bed and began to fantasize more than he cared to admit about a dark skin dreadlock wearing beauty that got under his skin and into his veins.
Lori sighed and plopped down on her side of the bed with a book and began to read.
Earlier that morning the Deputy Sheriff vehicle came to a halt.
"What are you doing Michonne?"
"What do you think I'm doing? I'm walking to work."
"But, you're pregnant."
Michonne stopped on the side of the road with no sidewalks. "Okay."
Exasperated, Rick got out the cruiser and opened the passenger door for her.
"You know people will talk." Said Michonne as she got into the air-conditioned vehicle.
"You and the baby are my concern. Not people." He closes her door, and he went back to the driver side and got in.
"Is that so Sheriff?...Deputy Sheriff. Corrected myself this time."
Rick smiles a half smile. He is still slightly annoyed that she would choose to walk. Rick reaches for her hand and squeezes it as he drives her to a secluded spot. Once he parks he leans in to kiss her.
"You know I have to be at work in less than an hour, Right?"
"I can't get a kiss?"
"Rick a kiss with you always end up more than a kiss. Kinda how I got this." She motioned to her belly.
"Well, don't make it so good to me."
"Good to you?"
He begins kissing the side of her face and neck as she giggles leaning into him. "Michonne come on." He was pleading for more than the taste of her salty skin.
"You said not to make it good to you. How your memory just comes and goes." She turns to give him what he asked for and as predicted he had his seat pulled back as far as it could go as she struggles to get on top of him.
Rick helped to hike her skirt up and move her panties to the side as she unzipped his pants and released him so he could enter her. God did he want to be inside her. They kept their eyes locked on to each other as their breathing turned into a duet of moans and sighs as their bodies moved up and down to a rhythm all their own.
"I'm not hurting you?" Rick breathed out when she closed her eyes.
"No." She opened her eyes back to lock them again with his.
"Goddamn. Do it like that Michonne. Ride me. Drive me crazy with what you got. Just let me have a few seconds longer before you do that thing right there. Michonne. Oh."
"You always say-Oh. Shit, Rick, I'm going to-"
They both climaxed at the very same time. It usually took Rick a little longer to come down from his euphoric state as he kept Michonne hips still as he ground into her as if he couldn't get enough.
Minutes later he finally allowed Michonne who was laughing at him to dismount him.
When he finished zipping himself, he remembered he had something to give to Michonne.
"Almost would have forgotten." He handed her an envelope with a thousand dollars.
Michonne was surprised, "What is this for?"
"I want you to pay Daryl to fix your car. I don't want you walking. I don't. It's too hot. Whatever is left you get Andre whatever he needs."
"Rick we just had sex. You hand me an envelope of money? What do you take me for?" She throws the envelope back at him."
"You havin my baby, and I want you not to walk a mile and a half to work and back in all this hot ass heat just in case I can't make it to you in time like I did today. You going to fault me for that?"
Michonne was hesitant when she responded, "No."
He puts the envelope back in her hands, and she puts it in her purse.
He drives from the secluded spot to take her to work.
"When's your next prenatal visit?"
"Next week."
"Mom mentioned that you missed the last appointment." Michonne looked at him, and he immediately responded, "She doesn't know. She just mentioned it in passing is all." He eyed her right back.
"I'm going to quit you one day Mr. Rick Grimes."
"And I will beg you back, Ms. Michonne Benton. I know I would." Rick said with certainty. His declaration made her smile as he pulled up to the small insurance office that Lori worked as the manager and Michonne got out.
Lori came outside before Rick could pull off. "Hey, Michonne. Glad my husband was able to give you a lift. It is hot out here."
Michonne nodded and slipped by through the door that Lori held open for her.
"Hey, babe. Just wanted to let you know you don't have to worry about picking up Carl this afternoon. I got him."
"Good."
"Love you, babe." She leaned in and kissed his cheek which she found unusual because they usually kissed on the lips but she tried not to think any more about it, and she didn't.
"I'll be home late tonight again."
"Okay." Lori waved as Rick drove off.