His Substitute Wife... My Sister Book One Read online

  “Wrong is wrong and why they want you to forget something that may help you I don’t know why, but you’re going to carry my child and if helping you helps my future offspring then I have to put that first before my marriage. I have to help you, Charisse. I have to do whatever I can to help you.”

  Finally she touched the locket surprised by its warmness. “Remembering only hurts and it brings…the bad things back.”

  He didn’t want to impress this upon her too much right now. “Do you like the locket?”

  Charisse assumed he was going to drop the subject and relaxed a little. Putting her fingers around the locket, she was still amazed by its warm touch. Looking down at the picture of her father, suddenly she felt transported back to that day.

  Oh no! She was having a daymare! And she couldn’t stop it.

  ***

  A trance fell over her. Parker knew it the moment she looked up from the locket and there was this glassy look in her burnt orange brown exotic eyes. She spoke in a soft pleading whisper like a scared little girl.

  “As soon as I went in there with Daddy I knew he wasn’t sleeping. It was the erratic way he was breathing, but she told me that he was just playing. She urged me to pick up the toy and I didn’t want to but she said if I didn’t the monster would come and get me.” She gasped sharply and then screamed. Covering her month she looked down on the floor. “It went off as soon as I picked it up. I didn’t mean it. I didn’t…” She covered her eyes, but then uncovered them as if she were watching a horror movie. “Ohhh,“ she moaned. “He’s everywhere. I’m sorry, Daddy. I’m so sorry.” Sinking to her knees she moaned and sobbed some more.

  Parker was almost afraid to speak, but he asked quietly, “Where is she?”

  Charisse looked behind her. She didn’t see the golden drawers. She saw the sitting room. “She’s gone. She ran to tell Momma.”

  “Charisse,” her father whispered.

  Looking back at him, she moaned as his eyes opened and he reached out to her touching her arm.

  “Thank you, baby. D-Don’t let them take...” His eyes closed, his grip loosened and then her mother’s screams filled her eardrums.

  Parker saw her fighting an invisible person and he knew he needed to stop it. With the gloves still on he was able to drop to his knees and shake her harshly snapping her name.

  The trance cleared from her eyes and then she pushed away from him shivering.

  “Whom were you fighting?” he asked.

  “My mother,” she said getting to her feet. “She saw what I did and she beat me.”

  “Beat you?” he asked to be sure rising up with her.

  It had hurt so much to move and they thought she was screaming in misery but it had been in pain.

  “Was this the first time she hurt you?”

  “Not this bad before. She made me swear not to tell them anything. We were never allowed to tell and when I came home, it was worse. He wasn’t around and they didn’t want to take anymore so they constantly reminded her of me and what I did.”

  Parker wanted to hold her and comfort her. But no amount of money was going to make it all right for Charisse. No amount at all. Since her father’s death, her life had been miserable because of her sisters.

  “Charisse, no one knew about the beatings except your family?”

  “We couldn’t tell. She would get worse if anyone even suspected.”

  “But you came back from college to take care of her.”

  She turned away from him whispered miserably, “I’m a glutton for punishment, I guess. Please don’t make me remember anymore right now, Parker. Please.”

  How did one comfort someone who could not be touched and no amount of words could assuage the troubled soul?

  Parker was frustrated and wanted to just draw her in his arms and hold her to let her know he would do his best to make it all right, but there was nothing he could say or do right now to assure Charisse of that. Her monster may be dead, but the ghost was still alive and still wreaking havoc in her life. “It’s fine Charisse.”

  They left the place and the drive home was filled with a heavy silence. When they arrived he asked, “Would you like me to take you to your doctor?”

  Charisse refused his offer. “I told you because I felt you deserved to know, not because I needed to.” She touched the locket tenderly. “You’ve given me something that no one has ever given me Parker, and I appreciate it.”

  “So all these years you knew?”

  “I pushed it all away because of the fear and painful memories. They kept him away from me on purpose because they knew.”

  “Knew what, Charisse?”

  Rochelle must have heard them pull up and came out to the car.

  Charisse didn’t answer his question. Instead she just got out of the car and went inside with the nurse.

  Chapter 15

  The key fit on the necklace next to the locket and she smirked in satisfaction. There was this fulfilling sense of self that she hadn’t felt in a long time and it was very overwhelming for her to feel like her old self. She hadn’t felt in so long that it almost brought her to her knees, but she fought the urge because she knew Rochelle would be coming soon.

  When Rochelle came back in the room with the glass of water, Charisse straightened her face looking stoic.

  “Your other sister came by to see you,” Rochelle said stiffly.

  Charisse drunk the whole glass of water before answering her. “What did you tell Cheyenne?”

  “I told her you weren’t around and she insisted on knowing where you were. I told her nothing.”

  Moving to the window, Charisse said quietly, “Thank you, Rochelle.” It was hard to pretend nothing was wrong with her when so much had happened, but she didn’t want her recovery to change anything, especially Rochelle’s plans to leave. If she told the nurse what she had remembered and how it had very much affected her emotional psyche, it could change everything.

  Later that evening, Chyna came to get her for dinner, but when they got down to the kitchen there wasn’t a meal cooked.

  Take out had been ordered and Chyna had set up two settings on the table. Soon as they heard the nurse leave, Chyna ordered Charisse to follow her.

  They went to the guest room and her sister passed her a white stick. “I need you to pee on the stick.”

  “What for?”

  “To find out if you’re pregnant, Charisse.”

  “This early? It’s only been a week.”

  “Technology has changed and I want to make sure,” Chyna explained. “Now go in there and pee. Leave it on the counter and get in place.”

  The pillows were lying on the ground.

  “Tonight?”

  “Yes, Parker just came back again and soon as he walked in I handed him the turkey baster.”

  “I thought we were only doing it in the mornings and afternoons.”

  “Don’t think, Charisse. Just do.” Chyna walked out.

  ***

  Chyna’s footsteps were not helping him and he had to completely close off his mind from everything to imagine something that could get him started.

  The stress of work and his sister-in-law was getting to him along with the ugly truth that he’d fucked up and married into the cruelest family this side of the Mississippi.

  He forced himself to just concentrate on Charisse. This morning when she saw the necklace, her face brightened up, but she had not smiled. She had fought it but then she immediately became leery about it.

  His member twitched as he remembered the twinkle in her eyes, but then they narrowed to that seductive leeriness and her lips tightened.

  He could just imagine pressing her up against the wall, opening her blouse to reveal those sugar sweet full breasts, wrapping her honey brown legs around his waist and feeling the heat of her voluptuous body sear…

  Fifteen strokes took him over the edge conquering his mental resistance almost too much that he barely made the right location.

  When he
finally composed himself and the room wasn’t spinning that much he opened the bathroom door abruptly.

  “You’re sweating,” Chyna said warily.

  “And?” he asked clearing his throat.

  “You never sweat before.”

  Sarcastically, he said, “Good orgasms do that. You should try one.”

  She snatched the plastic baster and he had the pleasure of slamming the door in her face. He took a cold shower only to reinvigorate himself. Right afterward, Kimberly called.

  She was Jaelen’s wife and a total opposite of her husband. To this day, Parker couldn’t understand how Jaelen had ever softened up enough for her to handle him.

  “I was just confirming our dinner tomorrow night.”

  He’d forgotten to remind Chyna of his intention and he didn’t want to cancel.

  “Yes,” he said. “But I haven’t made any plans and forgot to tell my wife.”

  “I’ll take care of everything,” she assured him sweetly. “I’m excited about seeing your sister-in-law. We’ll be there early. You know how Jaelen gets.”

  He said a little more of this and that before disconnecting, wondering how had Jaelen gotten so lucky to meet a smart, attentive woman with his foul attitude.

  ***

  When Chyna took the baster to wash, Charisse asked, “What does he think about?’

  “Who?”

  “Parker. What does he think about to make himself do that?”

  “Does it matter?”

  “Well, I’m sure the baby might ask. And I was reading that book last night about masturbation and it was saying recollect about something erotic. Does he think about you? Do you really give him something to think about?”

  Chyna wrapped the plastic utensil in a clean towel and put it on the top shelf of the guest closet. “It doesn’t matter. As long as the job gets done, Charisse.”

  “Don’t you want to know?” Mischievously, she added, “He could be thinking about Cheyenne.” She made a disgusted face on purpose. “Oh that’s just a nasty thought. I take that back.”

  Huffing in vexation, Chyna said, “If you’re so interested, why don’t you ask.” She went over to look at the stick in the bathroom and then read the box with a confused look on her face.

  Charisse wrinkled her nose but then contemplated.

  Chyna threw the box and stick in the garbage with frustration. “I think this stupid thing is old or broken. Nothing showed up and I waited the time period. I’ll get another one before the morning for you to use. Lay there for thirty more minutes while I make sure dinner is ready.”

  That really wasn’t any problem and when she was done, she went back up to her room and showered. It wasn’t so disgusting to her anymore to do this like the first time she had done it.

  Taking off the clothes, she felt a freedom as she looked at the locket around her neck that lay just above the valley before her handful-sized breasts. Pulling the rubber band from her hair, she let her hair down. It was still permed and spread out like a Pantene commercial falling right behind her ear with a slight curl to the ends from being tucked under in a ponytail.

  Staring in the mirror she leaned closed to stare at the burnt brown orange eyes and saw him. Wrapping her arms around her body she looked over her shoulder to see the tall strapping figure of her father.

  He wasn’t hurt like past daymares. And he wasn’t sobbing like he had been the last time she had seen him. His face was content and solemn.

  “I miss you,” she said out loud.

  “It’s okay, Rissey,” he assured her.

  Charisse’s legs buckled and she collapsed to the ground, crying. It wasn’t a sad cry and she wasn’t scared. Not anymore.

  ***

  Parker arrived down to the dining room to see Chyna getting the last plate out of the microwave and setting it on the table, but there were only two places set.

  “She isn’t joining us?” he asked.

  “I’m not joining you.” She went to a chair and retrieved her coat. “Rochelle informed me that Cheyenne stopped by while you were gone this afternoon.”

  He stiffened. “I haven’t spoken to her.”

  Chyna gave him a distrustful look. “Not for you, husband. She stopped by for Charisse. I need to go speak to her.”

  “Why?” he questioned.

  “For one, to tell her to stay away from the house in the most unsuspicious way. And to find out why she needed to speak to Charisse.”

  “I should remind you I invited Jaelen and Kimberly over for dinner tomorrow.”

  “Why? With her here?”

  “I thought maybe they should meet her.”

  “I’m not a fan of Jaelen and you know this,” Chyna said bitterly.

  “And he’s not a fan of yours but they’re friends of mine.”

  In frustration, she said, “Why couldn’t you tell me earlier? How can I plan for dinner when I’m in the middle of planning a baby?”

  It sounded ridiculous, but he figured maybe he was putting more upon her than what she was used to. “I do apologize for doing this, but Kimberly gladly will organize tomorrow’s dinner.” Out the corner of his eye, he saw Charisse had come to stand at the doorway of the kitchen. How he suddenly became aware of her presence even though she’d been quiet as a mouse, he wasn’t sure. He noticed she was wearing her hair down, which was unusual and that she was wearing a plain brown dress that accentuated her small waist and wide hips. “Without an assistant, it’s been a little bit difficult for me, Chyna.”

  “No one told you to quit your plant job,” she snapped spitefully.

  “I don’t see you complaining about the money I make at your weekly hair appointments and almost daily shopping trips,” he snapped cruelly. “I see the credit card reports and just because I don’t say anything about it, doesn’t mean I don’t know anything about it.”

  “I’ll help you,” Charisse said quietly from the doorway.

  Chyna and Parker looked her way.

  Charisse was almost inclined to look over her shoulder as if someone else had said those words, which had literally leaked from her lips. Explaining herself, she said, “I’m sitting around here all day. I might as well do something.”

  “Fine,” Chyna snapped. “You can help him do his business crap.” She hurried out the house leaving them alone.

  Parker flinched at how Chyna so flippantly referred to his business as if it were nothing, but he forced himself not to get into an argument with his wife in front of his sister-in-law, but he had to pull from his home training in order to fight the feeling.

  Charisse sat down and Parker followed sitting across from her.

  The moment she got up from the bathroom floor and composed herself, Charisse knew she was a different person completely. Coming to terms with the past all in a brief moment was tremendous, but from her past experiences there was a strength inside of her she had not come to realize until now. It had felt like chains had been unlocked from her soul, a cover had been pulled off her brain and the blinds had been taken off her eyes.

  Should she thank Parker for doing what he did to start the events that have now changed her life and what doctors could never do?

  How could she thank him?

  The tingling in her fingers came and she gripped the fork just to keep her hands to herself.

  Maybe that’s why she had volunteered to help his business.

  Or you don’t want to fight the proximity issue you have with him?

  “How do you feel?”

  “Better,” she said forcing herself to stop noticing that even with casual clothes on, he still looked nice. “I never– “

  He spoke at the same time, “I’m sorry– “

  They both stopped talking and looked at each other for a moment.

  “You first,” he offered.

  “I never really thanked you for the necklace.”

  “It’s really no problem,” he said. “I was going to say sorry for upsetting you.”

  “It’s fine.”
>
  They looked down at their plates simultaneously.

  She found the courage to ask her question when he reached for his glass of juice. “What do you think about when you masturbate?”

  The liquid shot out of his mouth, but he covered his mouth before it affected the table and the food.

  He coughed a few times as she sat patiently while he cleaned up his mouth and lap. Did she know how her innocence made her irresistibly attractive?

  “W-Why are you even asking me that?”

  “I’m curious,” she answered simply.

  Obviously she had no idea how complex the question was because she wouldn’t sound so casual about it. And she had the nerve to act like he crawled under a rock. “Curiosity is the basis of trouble.”

  “And you should know all about trouble, shouldn’t you, Parker, because you’ve been in enough.” The double meaning was not lost by the way he only twitched. Quickly, she asked before he found a way to avoid the subject, “What trouble could I get in asking you that?”

  “What does it matter?”

  “Chyna said the same thing in the same frustrating tone of voice. Is it a secret? I know in many cultures and religions it’s taboo to masturbate, but we’re adults.”

  “And because of that it’s a subject that shouldn’t be so easily broached as if we’re speaking of the weather and if you aren’t intimate with that person that you’re asking that of, it’s really none of your business.”

  “But I want to know.”

  “Why do you really need to know this?” he insisted to know.

  “I was reading this book and it talked about masturbation. It said to think of something erotic, but you just don’t seem like an erotic person.”

  “I don’t?”

  “No. You’re more of a clean-cut kind of boring guy. Missionary position and god forbid anyone suggest woman on top.”

  Parker felt this urge to yank her over the table to give her a sound kiss and then show her exactly what he could really do, but he didn’t. She was actually trying to be an expert on sex? “And this is coming from a virgin?”

  She pursed her lips together to fight the blush. “I don’t have to eat off the tree to know it’s an apple tree.”