The Stranger On The Roadside
A/N: Hey folks, thank you for your amazing reviews. I trust you're all keeping safe and surviving this madness. I thought I'd post this update now because the next few days will be crazy. It feels like we're living in an alternate universe. If you haven't already voted, please make a plan to do so and take your family and friends to vote with you. #Vote like your lives depends on it (and it does with over 230K+ deaths) because democracy is threatened by a mad man. Remember #BlackLivesMatter and change only happens when you vote especially since they are trying to suppress your voice.
Earlier that day...
Charmaine remained unsettled after her run-in with her husband's ex-lover and son at the supermarket. The shock from her earlier encounter persisted because the description Rick provided of the woman seemed contrived as though the woman had been easily forgotten, which of course wasn't the case. The woman was more beautiful than she imagined and there was no question as to the identity of the boy's father. The only question was whether or not her husband downplayed his description of the woman because he was still secretly into her.
The petite athletic dark-skinned woman with the intense eyes appeared self-assured as she insinuated there were problems in her marriage and it pissed Charmaine off royally. Who the hell did the bitch think she was? she thought.
Rick's desire to be in his son's life was a given, that's just who he was because he was a great dad. That said, however, with him actively in his son's life meant he would also be in the mother's life too and while it may be true he only cheated once before, there was something about the woman—she had seduced him once before and Charmaine had no intention of letting the shameless hussy walk into their lives and wreck her marriage so a little retail therapy was in order.
…
Charmaine sat at the small table for two in a cozy nook of the restaurant and busied herself posting selfies of her little black dress, the one that rendered her husband speechless when she first walked downstairs. She knew it would too because she knew what made him tick. Her mama always said if you kept your man fed he wouldn't stray. And that night her husband was most certainly hungry, so she allowed him to have his dessert before their meal. It also meant she had to shower again and as a result, they were late for their reservation.
She felt empowered in her little black dress and her ego soared from all the likes and remarks her posts generated.
...
The two couples sat at a cozy table on the far side of the large dining room. The location allowed for privacy which the group certainly needed. The window allowed for a view of the landscaped lot as opposed to their usual table which gave a backdrop of the city lights and a view of couples strolling by enjoying the sultry night.
It wasn't the best seat in the house, but Rick liked the isolation and made a mental note to slip Milton a couple of dollars for seating them in a veritable bubble.
Each of them took their seats in silence. The palpable tension started the moment the women laid eyes on one another.
"Happy to have you with us again, Sheriff. Welcome, Mr. and Mrs. Kennedy." the maître d' added, placing both the food menu and the wine list before each of them. Your server, Simon will be with you shortly.
"Thank you," Michonne added who gave a polite smile and used her foot under the table to nudge Malyk.
"Yes—er—Thank you, Milton," Malyk added, breaking his gaze away from the woman who sat across the table from his wife.
…
Rick studied the table. The animosity between the women was obvious and he wondered just what the hell they'd say to one another if given the chance. He also noticed the bizarre way Malyk looked at his wife. He knew the night was ruined but tried his best to make the best of the situation. He no sooner opened his mouth to make introductions but found himself too slow when Michonne spoke up.
"It's lovely to see you again, Mrs. Grimes. It seems we have similar taste."
Rick looked from his wife to Michonne and wondered what the hell she was about to say. When? Where and how the two met and what the hell they talked about?
A pregnant pause followed Michonne's remark before she added, "stunning dress."
A nervous Rick adjusted his tie and signalled the nearby waiter's attention. He needed a drink.
"By the way, the name's Michonne—Michonne Kennedy and this is my husband, Malyk. We are very pleased to have you as our guests tonight. Aren't we, dear?" Michonne's heel gently pushed into Malyk's instep to corral his attention as she smiled sweetly in the direction of the vile woman and her confused husband.
Meanwhile, Charmaine's eyes momentarily narrowed like fiery daggers and her delicate nostrils flared. She wanted to smack the smile from the woman's face but instead, she acted as the southern lady her mama raised her to be. Macon was her town, after all, and she was the sheriff's wife, so she placed her hand on Rick's forearm and offered a smile that didn't quite reach her light brown eyes.
"Why, thank you, Mrs. Kennedy, and on behalf of my husband and myself, we would like to welcome both of you to our fair city. It's not exactly Atlanta, but I'm sure you'll find enough here to keep yourselves busy. And thank you for investing in our fine city."
But before Michonne choked on Charmaine's fakeness, the waiter appeared. He took a small pencil from behind his ear and removed his notepad from his apron and addressed the party of four.
"Good evening, my name is Simon, and I'll be your server tonight," a partially balding lanky older man with a horseshoe moustache stated. "Would y'all care to place your drink orders now or do you need some more time?"
"Do you have a wine preference, Sheriff?" Malyk asked politely as he perused the wine list.
"Not really," Rick replied knowing that the man and his wife were the food snobs at the table and deferred the choice to him.
"Very well then," Malyk added and perused the list for a few minutes longer. He decided on a bottle of the finest Cabernet for the occasion.
...
It was the second time that night Charmaine refused alcohol and each time she did, she stared directly at Michonne, it was almost as if she dared her to question her choice. Each time, she rubbed Rick's forearm which caused him to glance from his wife to Michonne as he tried to assess whatever mind games were at play.
Just then, Charmaine took the napkin and discretely wiped her lips. "So, Mrs. Kennedy, since everyone at the table already knows how you met my husband, why don't you tell us how you met Mr. Kennedy?"
"Charrrrmaine!" Rick reproached after swallowing a mouthful of food.
"What is it, dear? I dare say it's a fairly safe question to ask. After all, it's in the vein of getting to know our new friends, is it not?"
Michonne smiled politely and promised herself she wouldn't allow Charmaine's constant formality to rile her because the witch's insecurities showed. She needed to feel superior and sarcasm was her only way to achieve her ends.
Michonne felt Rick's eyes upon her and her skin warmed, so she briefly glanced at him. Immediately she knew he knew she had had quite enough of his wife's childlike behaviour.
"You really don't have to answer that, Michonne. I don't know what's gotten into my wife tonight."
"I don't mind. She needs assurance and I'm more than happy to ease her mind."
Rick again looked from his wife to Michonne uncertain as to where she intended to take it but the warmth of her chocolate brown eyes eased his fears, and he allowed himself to relax.
Michonne looked tenderly at Malyk and gently touched his cheek. She then turned to address Charmaine, "It's quite a tale, I used to help out my mama in the restaurant during summer breaks and after school. One summer, my gentle giant moved in a few doors down from us and one afternoon, he walked into the restaurant looking for work. My mama hired him as a busboy and we've been together pretty much ever since."
Michonne noticed Rick's disinterest in her walk down memory lane and smiled. He looked like a man who wanted to call an end to the farce.
"Really?" Charmaine asked as surprise registered on her face.
Malyk rewarded Michonne with a kiss on her cheek. "It's pretty simple. I knew I was gonna marry her the moment I laid eyes on her."
Michonne laughed, "Naturally I resisted but he wore me down. So, now that you know our story, how did you meet the sheriff, Charmaine?" Michonne added, knowing her continual use of the woman's name irked her because each time she did, Charmaine's nostrils twitched like the witch she was. "You don't seem the type who'd pick up a total stranger. You seem more like a southern damsel," Michonne added with a mischievous smile.
"Darling, no need to go low," Malyk reproached.
Michonne feigned shock. "Honey, it's like she said, it's all about getting to know our new besties."
Michonne moistened her lip and glanced back at Rick, who had been unusually quiet most of the evening. Their eyes met and his grey-blue orbs showed signs of resignation to a night gone to hell. He looked exhausted.
Rick knew Michonne actions were calculated. He used his napkin to dab his lips and laid his fork and knife diagonally across his empty plate. He surveyed the plates on the table and asked, "Was your meal not to your liking, Michonne?"
His direct address to Michonne caused Charmaine's head to whip to her right with squinted eyes. She looked from her husband to Michonne. A slight frown momentarily appeared on her face as she watched the eye exchange between the two so she cleared her throat.
Malyk also caught the look too but remained silent, unlike Charmaine, however, he decided against airing their dirty laundry in front of strangers.
Michonne looked at the remainder of the steak which she idly pushed around her plate and took a sip of her wine instead. "It turns out I'm not very hungry after all. So what's your story, Sheriff? How did you two meet?"
Rick gazed at Michonne with renewed interest, but when his gaze lasted a second longer than Malyk thought proper, he touched Michonne's forearm and sent Rick a glacial stare as he poured himself another glass of wine."
"We met at the governor's picnic," Charmaine answered. "He saw me and pretty much stalked me the entire afternoon. Every turn I made, he was nearby. It was creepy, but the governor, my mama's uncle, vouched for him, so I accepted a date with him."
Rick signalled Simon and asked for something stronger to drink and Malyk joined him.
"Would y'all care for dessert?" the waiter asked.
"Oh yes, the peach cobbler here is to die for, y'all must try it," Charmaine insisted partly because she had more questions for the woman across the table from her.
...
"This cobbler is indeed very good, but my wife's pastry skills are far superior." Malyk critiqued, as a way of filling the silence at the table.
Charmaine ignored the man who kept staring at her. She found his intense stares the entire evening uncomfortable but she tolerated him partly because she needed to unmask his wife for who she was.
"So, do y'all have other children?" Charmaine asked while looking directly at Michonne.
"RJ's our only child," Malyk replied as he looked at Rick.
"Oh," Charmaine replied while looking at both men. She waited to see whether her husband would say something but he didn't which made her happy.
The other woman's passive-aggressive behaviour irked Michonne. The entire night her agenda was to get to this point, so Michonne sat up and squared her shoulders. The woman's behaviour was predictable. She had used her leeway to hang herself. "Charmaine," Michonne gave the woman a forced smile. "I'm so glad you brought up the subject of our son, I knew we'd get here sooner or later and now that we have, I just wanted to add, whenever Rick exercises his paternal rights, it means our son will be in your home and sometimes in your custody. Realistically speaking, we can't stop this from happening, so we expect that you'll treat RJ with respect and care for him as though he were your own. It also goes without saying, we'll treat little Teia likewise whenever she decides to visit or sleepover at our home."
As a result of Michonne's statement, both men looked from one woman to the other confused and shocked.
Rick frowned, but Malyk who felt obligated to stand by his wife spoke up, "What happened six years ago, affected three of us. I forgave my wife and I've accepted RJ as mine. That said, however, you have no grievance with Michonne. Your husband may have fathered our son, but don't fool yourselves, if you give us reason to, we'll fight for him."
Finally, Rick had had enough, "Look, I think things are getting out of hand, we should call it a night," a pissed and exhausted Rick strongly suggested.
"That's the best idea I've heard all night," Michonne added and stood up.
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