Free Until by Timmothy B. Mccann Page A

well enough to sleep with him in curlers. Just at that moment he walked in the room and said, “Time to get up, Beeper.” Beeper was oneof the pet names he called her because she had told him a story of her father singing “Jeepers Creepers” to her as a baby. Since she could not say “jeepers,” she would end up just singing “beepers, beepers.”
    She looked at Evander standing there, all six feet three inches and 210 bronzed pounds of him. He wore a black terry cloth robe tied loosely, which gave her a peek at his swelling white bikini briefs. As he stood before her holding a tray with an apple Danish, quarter slice of grapefruit, and tea, Betty sighed to herself. “Get up, Beep. Remember, you have to work on that lawsuit you mentioned last night.”
    Betty stretched and her toes separated under the satin sheets as she replied, “I know, I know.” And then with a smile she said, “Thank you, honey. This is too sweet.”
    â€œAfter staying up so late, I knew you’d be tired this morning, so I got up and made you some tea. Did you sleep well?” her prince asked.
    â€œYeah, I slept well, until that thing went off.”
    Evander smiled, put down the tray, and held out his large hand to her. “It’s time, Beep, come on.” As she sat up in her king-size bed, he secured her breakfast with care in front of her, along with a copy of the Saturday morning paper.
    â€œI take it you like Earl Grey. That’s all I saw in there. I hope it’s not too strong.”
    â€œNo, it’s fine, I’m sure,” she said, unable to wipe the smile from her lips.
    â€œWell, I made a little too much, so if you like it, I’ll pour some in a thermos for later today.”
    â€œThanks,” was all she could say.
    Betty savored her breakfast while Evander timed the radio to “Tom Joyner Moving On” and headed for the shower. She noticed her attaché was, as always, next to the bed, and she reached inside for her favorite tattered article, “Midway Railroad Loses Civil Case.” As she ran her fingers over the story, which she could recite verbatim, her smile reappeared while she leaned back into her goose-down pillow.
    Moments later, Evander turned off the shower and walked back into the room with a black towel cinched around his muscular waist. When she saw him, Betty leaped from thebed to greet him with a kiss and a warm hug that said thanks.
    â€œYou know I love you like crazy, girl,” he said as he dried his short silky locks with a hand towel.
    â€œYou’re just too good to be true. Do you know that? How did I become so lucky?”
    With a smiling gaze into her eyes, Evander softly kissed her on the tip of the nose. As she released the embrace, he walked to the bureau to dress for work. Betty felt guilty for not saying “I love you” back. She wanted to say it so badly. But not like this. When she said those three words, she wanted him to know they were heartfelt.
    As she entered the bathroom, she noticed a heart drawn on the foggy mirror, which made her feel more ashamed that she could not share what she felt. With a step into the shower stall, Betty leaned against the smooth onyx tile, deep in thought. When will we reach the end of the rainbow? Will it always be this good? How long would she be able to keep this guy in her life, without uttering those three simple words? But most of all, Betty searched her soul for the answer as to why she felt uneasy about him. In so many ways he was everything she had dreamed of. So was it the old joke being personified? Did she not want to join any club that would have her as a member? She wasn’t sure. But she did know what her heart felt for him, and debated whether she should just say those three little words so he would not walk away.
    As Betty dried herself, Evander knocked on the door to the bathroom, which was ajar, instead of just walking in on her. “Come