Love To Luv Read online

  Aretha pressed a picture of me on her phone.

  JACOB

  What is going on Auntie?

  ARETHA

  Papadopoulos, Mattie said that there is a concert going on this weekend in New Orleans. Would you like to attend the concert with us?

  JACOB (without asking who was going to be there)

  Yeah, sure. How much are the tickets?

  ARETHA

  Don’t worry about that I got you.

  Aretha sped down the highway to get home. She was so filled with joy that she did not know what to do with herself.

  TWENTY-TWO

  I drove straight to the Omni Royal Hotel in New Orleans. It was an award-winning four-diamond hotel. Mattie was in awe by the beauty of it. Dennis walked to the front desk to check-in. It wasn’t long before he returned with several card keys. He passed everyone a key. Dennis told the kids that they would be sharing a room. Monique, Teddy, Jeremy and Ian all tagged along since they were on break from school and was off work for the weekend.

  JACOB

  Once we get settled in I want us to go the Rib Room. The food there is killer. Auntie, you and Mattie will have to try their famous Washbucket Martini. After two of those, you might need a nap.

  MATTIE

  I am not trying to take a nap but I will have two maybe three.

  ARETHA

  Can you be any more of a lush?

  MATTIE

  I don’t know but I will try.

  ARETHA

  I have got to go pick up the tickets from the box office.

  JACOB

  You could have printed them online.

  ARETHA

  I know but I wanted to have the actual ticket. I might get some autographs on it.

  JACOB

  Ok Auntie.

  They piled into the elevator to head to their floor. All the room reserved was adjunct to each other. I reminded everyone to be ready to go eat in one-hour.

  As Monique and her friends entered their room Ian went directly to the window. He noticed the pool outside.

  IAN

  If it weren’t so cold outside I would get in the pool.

  JEREMY (walking up behind Ian)

  Maybe do a little skinny dipping.

  TEDDY

  You guys need to stop.

  JEREMY

  Don’t hate cause y’all an old married couple now.

  TEDDY

  Our flames are still lit. Isn’t that right baby?

  MONIQUE

  Exactly. They just upset they can’t get married.

  JEREMY

  If we wanted to we can. I don’t give a damn about a law. Marriage is more than a piece of paper. I can vow to him right now. But I won’t because he ain’t ready.

  Ian looked at Jeremy with a squint in his eyes. He wondered if Jeremy was just talking or was he being serious.

  MONIQUE

  How about tonight we go to the Rooftop observation deck to overlook the French Quarters.

  TEDDY

  Sound like a winner to me.

  Ian and Jeremy went to take their shower while Monique and Teddy settled in.

  I laid out my Ralph Lauren Cole Wash jeans with a Striped Poplin shirt before I went in the bathroom to shower for dinner. Dennis pulled out his web tablet to check his email. I tried to convince him not to do any work this weekend. Relax and enjoy himself. Those two words did not always fit in his life.

  It caught me off guard to find Dennis walking around the room naked waiting his turn in the shower. I noticed on the table that he had written out an agenda for that day.

  I quickly dressed and called everyone to see if they were ready. Aunt Aretha told me that she Mattie was downstairs at the bar trying the Washbucket Martini. I told her that was to go with her lunch. She insisted that she would have one with her lunch also.

  TWENTY-THREE

  After lunch and several drinks Dennis, Aretha, Mattie and I got into my truck to go and look at the condo while Monique and her friends walked the RiverWalk. It took us about thirty minutes to get to the condo.

  Dennis looked through his papers to make sure that he had the right property. After verifying it, he passed Aretha the keys. Aretha smiled so hard that she looked like a virgin that had just lost her virginity.

  Aretha put the key into the lock and turned it. Once opened, we were amazed how beautiful it was. Dennis and I walked towards the bedroom areas while Aretha and Mattie walked into the kitchen. Admiring the beautiful decorated rooms we heard arguing and items being broken.

  I looked at Dennis and we both took off running. Once in the living area we saw that Mattie had young lady that was in her late twenty’s in an Indian Death Lock wrestling move while Aretha was punching her in the face.

  I quickly grabbed Aunt Aretha arms but she pushed me over a table. I was hoping that it was accidental. Dennis grabbed Mattie by the waist and tried to pull her from the young lady. After I gained my composure I took another chance to grab Aunt Aretha. I just knew that we were getting ready to go to jail.

  I got Aunt Aretha and blocked her in the corner. I asked what was going on.

  ARETHA

  That’s Avis, the bitch that took my husband.

  AVIS

  I didn’t take shit. Edgar wasn’t happy with you. I made him feel like a man.

  Aunt Aretha pushed me off of her and ran towards Avis. Avis went screaming behind the island. They were running around it like little children playing. Mattie was yelling, “Get her!” Dennis would not let Mattie off the couch. He kept pulling her arm.

  I caught Aunt Aretha in mid run. I had to literally put a lock on her to place her on the couch.

  We waited five minutes before inviting Avis to have a sit in a chair. She declined the offer.

  DENNIS

  Why are you here?

  JACOB

  Better yet how did you get in?

  AVIS

  I have a key. I wanted to come and get some of Edgar’s things to remember him by.

  ARETHA

  If you take anything out of here I will gut your ass.

  AVIS

  See that is why he left you. Your mouth. No respectable woman would curse like you.

  ARETHA

  I am about to curse you again.

  JACOB

  Auntie, be quite for a minute. Avis you cannot take anything from this condo. That would be considered stealing. My aunt told me that she was selling you Uncle Edgar’s house. Don’t you think that is enough?

  AVIS

  I can’t afford the house.

  MATTIE

  Oh so you were a little gold digger.

  AVIS

  No you old bitty.

  MATTIE

  Somebody better get that chile before I gut her ass.

  DENNIS

  Ms. Avis I would advise you to leave.

  AVIS

  I am going to sue for assault.

  ARETHA

  Baby I don’t care. You were in my house.

  Avis went to grab her purse and other belongings. When she passed Mattie, Mattie jumped off the sofa and yanked her hair. Avis screamed. Mattie looked in her hand to find tracks of hair. Dennis pulled Mattie back and took the hair. He escorted Avis out of the condo and gave her tracks back.

  I finally let Aunt Aretha go. She spruced off of the couch and went into the kitchen to get a glass of water. Dennis fell to the floor with laughter.

  JACOB

  What is so funny?

  DENNIS (laughing)

  Mrs. Aretha and Ms. Mattie whipped the girl’s ass. When we came into the living room all I saw was Mrs. Aretha’s arm flying.

  JACOB

  Boy you stupid.

  MATTIE

  We should have cake walked her behind.

  JACOB (turning towards Aretha)

  I thought you had talked to her before and everything was cool.

  ARETHA

  We did but she had the nerve to tell me what she was “going” to take out of here. Then that
wench had the nerve to tell me about her and Edgar’s last days together. While she was talking all I saw was her face hitting my fist.

  DENNIS

  Ms. Mattie you aren’t any better. You were supposed to be stopping it and you holding the girl so that Aretha could hit her.

  MATTIE

  Ms. Dionne Warwick said it best.

  MATTIE & ARETHA (singing and slapping hands)

  That’s what friends are for.

  TWENTY-FOUR

  During their walk down Bourbon Street Jeremy spotted a man with a cart selling Hurricanes drinks.

  JEREMY

  My buddy, my friend. Teddy.

  TEDDY

  Sup.

  JEREMY

  Can you hook us up with some Hurricanes?

  TEDDY

  Man you can buy it. They ain’t gonna check.

  JEREMY

  What? Are you sure?

  TEDDY

  Yeah, watch.

  Teddy was about to order two Hurricanes when he remembered that Monique was pregnant. He turned and gave her a quick wink. She just turned her head in a playful huff. Teddy decided to go ahead and order all three. They were served in a thirty-two inch bong shape container. Teddy gave the man thirty dollars and handed Jeremy and Ian theirs.

  JEREMY & IAN

  Thanks.

  Taking a few sips Ian mentioned that they were strong and he already felt his head swimming. Jeremy was determined to make his head spin. He took three big sips of the cocktail. He stopped in his step because of a brain freeze. He placed his hand on his head and closed his eyes tightly. Everyone stopped and looked at him. The freeze begin to lighten up and Jeremy started to walk again.

  Monique told the guys that she was hungry. It had been a few hours since they last ate. They agree to stop at a jazz café to order something else to eat. Jeremy and Ian order a small Shrimp Remoulade and Flash Fried Crispy Crawfish Tails to share. Monique are Teddy order some Jambalaya each.

  They sat and talked about the tours of the RiverWalk and the mall. Ian spoke about a guy he saw in the mall that approached him in the shoe store. He describe the guy as being about 5’8”, weighing around 138 pounds and had a light complexion. This did not sit well with Jeremy.

  JEREMY

  Did you find out the kind of drawers he had on?

  IAN

  What are you talking about?

  JEREMY

  You describing him with full details. Is that where you went when you said you had to go to the restroom?

  IAN

  Don’t drink anymore.

  JEREMY

  I will drink what I want.

  IAN

  Alright, well you do you.

  Jeremy was behaving out of his normal character. Ian wondered was he jealous.

  Between eating, Monique showed the guys some of the things that she had bought for the baby. She bought a few clothes even though she didn’t know the sex of the baby. She showed the rattle, some bottles, and a silver spoon. Teddy wanted to see what was in the bag on her right but she would not show him

  After they finished eating, Ian picked up the check. Jeremy suggested they find a club to go to. Monique reminded them that she do not do clubs. Teddy said that he and Monique was going to head back to the hotel. He wanted to make sure that she got plenty of rest. Ian and Jeremy went to Cafe Lafitte in Exile.

  IAN

  Lafitte's is the oldest gay bar in the country and has a long and interesting history. During his years in New Orleans, Tennessee Williams used to frequent Lafitte's. Lafitte's has two floors of music and video. Downstairs is the main bar. Upstairs there is a pool table and the balcony! It's also a popular spot for straight locals and the adventurous tourist. Legend has it that Tennessee Williams was a patron of this establishment.

  Jeremy was baffled by this knowledge that Ian knew about this club. He wanted to ask how did he know this but he decided against it.

  TWENTY-FIVE

  Back at the hotel Teddy was in the garden tub relaxing with candles lit around them. Monique was laid back into his chest while he rubbed her stomach.

  TEDDY

  What do you think we will have?

  MONIQUE

  I don’t know. I think it will probably be a boy.

  TEDDY

  Why do you say that?

  MONIQUE

  ‘Cause that’s what you want.

  TEDDY (smiling)

  I just want a healthy baby.

  MONIQUE

  True but you know you want a boy.

  TEDDY

  No for real. I wouldn’t mind having a daddy’s girl but I would like a son to carry my name. What do you want?

  MONIQUE

  I don’t know. Pop wants a girl.

  TEDDY

  Really? I never would have thought.

  MONIQUE

  Yeah that surprised me too.

  Teddy and Monique finished their tub bath. Monique sat on the bed and put some lotion over herself. Teddy put on some oil and a pair of shorts.

  They were relaxing in the bed when there was a knock at their door. Teddy got up and looked through the peephole. It was Dennis and I. Teddy opened the door to let us in.

  MONIQUE

  Hey what are you all about to do?

  JACOB

  R-E-L-A-X. Your aunt got into a fight.

  TEDDY

  WHAT!?

  DENNIS

  Yes. We went to …oh I apologize this is your family story.

  JACOB

  No go ahead and tell it.

  DENNIS

  We went to look at the condo. Edgar’s mistress was there. She and Mrs. Aretha exchanged some words and it went from there.

  Monique was laughing so hard that she started coughing.

  TEDDY

  Who won?

  JACOB

  You got two best friends fighting one woman, who do you think won?

  TEDDY (eyes bulging)

  They double-teamed her?

  DENNIS

  Yes. I guess I will have to prepare some briefs for her.

  JACOB

  You better prepare more than that. You better get some bond money. Well look I am about to retire for the night. Where are Jeremy and Ian?

  MONIQUE

  They went to a club.

  JACOB

  If they get in any trouble they are on their own.

  Aretha went in the bathroom to take her shower for the night. She looked in the mirror first and noticed that she had a few scratches on her face. “That hussy scratched me.” She walked out of the bathroom to show Mattie. She found Mattie laying across the bed fully dressed – asleep. Aretha just shook her head and went back in the bathroom.

  About two o’clock the next morning, Ian and Jeremy was just walking into their room. Monique and Teddy were cradled in each other arms asleep.

  Ian went into the bathroom and began to take off his clothes for a shower. He stuck his head out of the bathroom and beckoned for Jeremy. Jeremy crawled into the bathroom because he was too inebriated to walk. Ian helped him off of the floor. He thought that maybe he should have fixed a tub bath because with Jeremy being 6’4” and weighing close to 225 pounds, it was a job holding him up.

  Once Ian helped Jeremy with his bath and cleaned himself up they went straight to bed.

  A quick burst of energy hit Jeremy like lighting in the sky. Jeremy reached over and grabbed Ian head and pushed him down to his mid-section. Without hesitation he began to deep throat Jeremy’s dick without a flinch. Jeremy grabs on Ian head and starts fucking his hungry mouth and to his surprise Ian swallows him whole without a problem.

  Ian decided that it was time to bring Jeremy to a very good night’s sleep. With a powerful clench of his jaws Ian took Jeremy thick dick down his throat and held it. Jeremy could not hold back any longer so he released all that creamy cum down Ian throat. This brought Ian to a gut-wrenching orgasm without touching himself.

  TWENTY-SIX

  Early Saturday morning Aretha,
Mattie and Dennis went back to the condo. Aretha felt that she would give it a once over again in peace. Upon arriving at the condo Mattie finished her Washbucket Martini that she ordered before leaving the hotel. She placed the cup in the holder and tripped over her heel getting out of the car. She quickly got herself together.

  As they enter the condo Aretha slowly walked in looking around. Dennis was behind her and Mattie followed. Aretha told them that she was going to keep the place since there was no mortgage on it. Dennis thought that it was a great idea and told her that he would make sure all the paperwork was in order.

  Mattie went into the kitchen and started to look through the cabinets. There were plenty of dishes and some new ones in the closet by the laundry room.

  Aretha went into the master bedroom and set on the bed to look around for a moment. Again she thought about the good times that she and Edgar shared. She wondered what she did to make him betray her. Did he lose interest in her? Was she not fulfilling him sexually? Were the conversations not interesting? Was she working too much? Did he just want something extra on the side? Why do people cheat she asked herself? “Ok Aretha get yourself together. Edgar is gone now. There is no point in crying. What’s done is done. He got what he wanted.”

  With that thought she got up and started to go through his belongings. She started with his closet. There were suits everywhere. Some with price tags still on them. Then over to the nightstands. Aretha found receipts of hotel stays, credit card statements, even the title to a car that she never seen. She found a lockbox under his bed but there was no key. She went to the jewelry box on the dresser. There she saw rings that he wore in concerts, bracelets, and a set of keys. Maybe one of these keys would open the lockbox.

  She tried the key and it opened. There were pictures scattered in the box. There were several pictures that caught her eyes. “What the hell?”, she yelled.