Melody's Blues

Melody’s Blues

By Giselle Lumas

Smashwords Edition

©Copyright 2011 Giselle Lumas

All rights reserved

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead are purely coincidental.

Email the author at: gigilumas@att.net

Visit the author’s website at: www.gisellelumas.com

Dedication

To my husband- Michael Lumas, Jr.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Prologue

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Epilogue

Prologue

Melody Roberts wondered what her cousin, Terrence Roberts, could possibly want. He had been immersed in the world of Lisa Johnson for the past few years that Melody wondered if perhaps he’d forgotten family existed. She entered Harold and Belle’s, a Creole restaurant in Los Angeles, California. The lighting was dim, but she found her way to a table in a secluded corner. She saw a familiar tall mocha skinned slim yet muscular man with dimples and a dazzling smile sitting alone at a table that was meant for ten. Mel, hey, I haven’t seen you in years. How are you?

She stuck out her right hand and smiled back at him. As their hands touched, she felt shaky, and an invisible spark caused goose bumps to course throughout her body. Hi, I know you were Terrence’s roommate in college, but I can’t remember your name, she admitted.

Reginald Dempsey but just call me Reggie.

Mel finally managed to remove her hand from his grasp and pointed an index finger at him. So are you as bad as Terrence says you are?

He was still grinning, Probably worse.

She giggled.

He says you’re pretty bad too.

Her mouth went to the side as she contemplated this for a moment. Well, I have been given an unlimited free pass to be as bad as I want or need to be since I had the worst relationship in history.

He motioned his hand for her to take the seat next to him. She accepted. Terrence’s brother Greg appeared with his wife. Two other people Mel had never met before appeared, as well. Soon all ten chairs were filled. Terrence was seated at the head of the table with Lisa to his right. They all ordered and began chatting amongst themselves as they waited for the creole food to arrive.

You know this is an engagement party, right? Reggie whispered to Mel.

What? Terrence doesn’t tell me anything anymore. I guess I shouldn’t be shocked, though, she said with her voice full of disappointment.

Yep, he proposed to her last weekend at a restaurant in Westlake Village.

She smirked.

Reggie, aren’t you going to say hello to your soul sister? A woman with enormous breasts, long dark brown straight hair and a well-rounded behind said. She planted a kiss on his cheek. The woman glanced at Mel and said, Oh, you’re trying to get a new phone number? She giggled. She turned her attention to Mel and stuck her hand out to shake Mel’s, Hi, I’m Veronica Diaz. Don’t worry. I’m not a threat at all. I’m Lisa’s best friend. I’m going to be the maid of honor at the wedding. Veronica covered her mouth quickly, Oh, I wasn’t supposed to say anything about the big day yet. Pretend you didn’t hear me say anything. But I know Reggie has a bigger mouth than I do and probably already said something, right?

Mel smiled and nodded. She automatically liked Veronica and hoped to see a lot more of her. I’m Melody, Terrence’s cousin, but you can call me Mel. Yes, Reggie did tell me but are you sure I’m not the maid of honor?

Veronica quickly snatched her hand away from Mel’s grasp and said, Oh, don’t even start with me. I am trying so hard not to swear. I went to confession yesterday, don’t make me curse already. She put a hand over her heart and said, I will jump you here in the restaurant if I have to.

She really will, Reggie warned Mel.

Mel giggled, waving her hand, I’m kidding. I didn’t even know this was an engagement party before I arrived. Terrence only left a message on my cell phone demanding I meet him and a few others here at six today. We hardly ever talk.

Really? Veronica asked, slouching over between her and Reggie. Mel wondered if she did it on purpose for Reggie’s benefit because a little more than cleavage was falling out of her low-cut emerald satin or perhaps silk top. He talks about you all the time. You’re more of a sister to him than a cousin.

Thanks, Mel said.

So, seriously, did Reggie ask you for your phone number yet? He’s not seeing anyone right now. Terrence mentioned you were available too. You two would seriously look cute together, and the babies you will make… ahhh… beautiful. I see you two making at least two babies together. I’d say four, but the economy is atrocious.

Reggie gave Veronica a gentle shove on her shoulder and pointed at the only vacant seat at the table, I think you need to go… now… really… V.

Mel laughed.

Oh, I’m saying too much? Veronica giggled. She put a hand on Mel’s shoulder to help her stand up. Okay, I will be a good girl and go back to my seat. You’ll have to give me your phone number Mel before you leave tonight. We will have to coordinate and plan the shower and ladies night.

Okay, I will.

You will have to give it to me too, Reggie said as Veronica went back to her seat.

Mel looked at Reggie skeptically. She didn’t plan on coming tonight to meet a new prospective boyfriend. She wondered if she should give him a fake number or not. Then again, it seemed as though Veronica would end up giving him the real number.

Nine months later…

Chapter One

Ow, she’s a brick, da dadada… house…. Melody Roberts sang and danced to the music playing from her stereo as she moved around her tiny kitchen. She lifted the lid from the enormous pot of spaghetti sauce that was simmering on her stove. She took a wooden spoon and stirred. The phone rang, and she danced her way to the cordless phone that was on the granite counter top. Glancing at the caller ID she knew it was her cousin’s fiancé calling, Hey Lisa, she said, leaning against a counter, What’s up? She pressed a button on the remote control to lower the volume.

Veronica is adamant about having a stripper come over immediately following the bridal shower. I don’t want a stripper. She doesn’t understand that I only want to see Terrence’s naked body. I don’t need to see any other man.

Mel rolled her eyes then interrupted Lisa before she could say anything further. Lisa, you are whining to the wrong person. I agree with Veronica. I want to see a stripper. Stop thinking that the shower and ladies night is about you, okay? The wedding is all about you, but the parties and celebrations before your big day are all about your friends and family. Just then there was a beep on her phone indicating another call had just come through, Hold on, I have another call.

Before clicking on the other line, she glanced at the caller id again and saw that Veronica was now calling her. She smiled, Hey V, Lisa is on my other line.

Mel, she is so uptight! One day she is just going to explode, and it’s not going to be pretty. She’s driving me loco, Veronica began speaking in Spanish, but Mel couldn’t understand what she was saying.

Why don’t I put us all on three-way and we can all talk about this…

Veronica immediately became louder and sputtered off more Spanish, but this time a lot faster. Finally, Mel heard her take a deep inhale of breath then a slow exhale. You know what? Just talk to her. Explain that this isn’t about her, and she needs to lighten up and stop being so selfish. I’m telling you; I am about to give up being the Maid of Honor and let you handle the stress. She is so controlling! Okay, I need to go meet Pablo for lunch. He’s already agreed to strip for free and knows what routine he’s going to do. So, like I said, talk some sense into her, or I give up.

Mel giggled, Pablo is the stripper? The new guy who works for you?

"Yes, you haven’t met him yet so stop laughing… and he doesn’t work for me, he works with me."

But you said he’s gay.

Look, it’s all a fantasy, right?

Mel’s shoulders were shaking with laughter, You said he gets on your nerves.

You know what, now you’re getting on my nerves too. I have to go. Talk some sense into Miss Control Freak, okay? Veronica didn’t give Mel the chance to answer because she disconnected the call.

Lisa was back on the line, Let me guess, that was Senorita Super Freak herself. She’s calling you to complain about me, and my obsessive compulsive disorder-ish need to control everything and everyone around me, and I need to lighten up and have some fun… oh and shake my cha cha’s like I never have before. Lisa spoke almost as fast as Veronica did.

Mel rubbed her temple in circular motions. She wondered if she could have both of their numbers blocked from her phone. But then again, they both knew where she lived and would end up at her condo door repeatedly banging on the door until she finally answered.

Mel, are you there? Lisa whined.

Yes, Lisa, I’m here. She said she was having Pablo strip for free. So what’s the problem? You know he’s gay, right?

Mel could hear the gasp of breath coming from Lisa. What’s the point of watching a gay man strip? You know you will never be with him. I just don’t get it.

It’s a fantasy, Lisa. Don’t you ever use your imagination? Really, you do need to lighten up. Here’s what you can do… later down the line when you and Terrence have been together for decades and your sex life hits rock bottom you can one day close your eyes. You can fantasize about Pablo and make love to Terrence with your eyes closed pretending he’s Pablo.

Lisa was quiet for a while. Mel put the phone on mute and laughed knowing that Lisa had no idea if she was serious or not.

Finally, Lisa said, Oh, my gosh! I cannot believe you. You are sick in the head, you know that?

Mel unmuted her line then said, And that’s why Reggie and I are together. He’s just as sick as I am.

See, you are practically married yourself! Why would you need to see a stripper?

Hey, first of all, I’m highly offended, Mel reached for a big pot from one of her lower cabinets and filled it with water and placed it on the stove. She switched the phone to her left ear to give her right shoulder a rest. You know Reggie, and I don’t ever plan on getting married. But, we have been together for over nine months, and I just have the need to see other men’s bodies. Seeing a stripper is perfectly healthy. Also, Veronica can tell him only to strip down to a g-string. He doesn’t have to be entirely naked.

Hmmm…. Lisa paused, okay. Tell her it’s okay as long as he keeps his boy toy covered up. I don’t want to see it.

Mel grinned, Okay, I’ll tell V.

One more thing, tell the crazy woman to stop making threats about not being my maid of honor. She knew what she was up against when she agreed. We were roommates all through college… hellooo…

Okay, I’ll give her the message. I need to focus on my dinner now.

Fine, I’ll see you this weekend.

Bye, Mel clicked off the phone then focused on the spaghetti.