The Roundtable of Truth About Love & Marriage

By Tamyara Brown

Blue has turned his life around after a ten-year bid in prison into a successful entrepreneur. His mission is to build generational wealth for his family. Blue cannot seem to balance it all and resorts to other ways to cope with his stress. Treasure, the guilt of her ex-husband's death tortures his wife, and laid off from her executive position she falls into a deep depression. She seeks help from a handsome and charming therapist who is falling in love with her. They crossed emotional lines when Blue isn't attentive to Treasure's needs lately. Can Blue and Treasure's marriage be saved when their bond is being broken by both their bad decisions of the past and present?
Tasiyana Matters has been chosen to author a controversial article in a prestigious newspaper about corruption in the black churches of Buffalo. It is the perfect payback from all the church hurt she has endured with the "mean girls" of the church. Once her intentions are discovered by her husband, Pastor William Matters he forbids her to have it published or it will end their marriage. Will Tasiyana defy her husband's wishes even if means losing her husband?
Lyrical loves the finer things in life while her husband Dru believes in saving for a rainy day. When Lyrical beauty Salon and Spa takes off, she spends even more. When her hasty spending habits cause troubles in their marriage and business relationship all hell breaks loose when Dru gives her an ultimatum to stop spending or lose him as a husband.

 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Tamluvstowrite Publications
• Release date: Feb 13, 2022
• ISBN: 9798201474201

Tamyara Brown

Tamyara Brown is an Amazon Best-Selling Author. To date, she has written eight novels, published in three anthologies, graphic and web designer, blogger, and the host of the podcast B.L.A.H Diaries. Tamyara loves being creative, and her mission is helping others have the audacity to turn their mess into a masterpiece one book at a time. Tamyara currently lives in Buffalo, NY. She has six beautiful children, five grandchildren, and several bonus children.

Book preview

The Roundtable of Truth About Love & Marriage!

By Tamyara Brown

When we listen, we learn to love unconditionally? We take a moment to understand versus judging we open the doors to heal what has broken us, and most of all you. The words we never say may harm the relationship we are building. -Tamyara Brown

The Illumination of Lies

Blue

I watched her sleeping angelically, her phone buzzing on the table at three in the morning. My question is, who in the fuck would be so bold to call my wife at this time of night? I reached over her shoulders, and it read three missed calls from Lula. Treasure’s cellphone screen is locked with a code, and I sling it on the table. My suspicions are eating at my gut, I look up at the ceiling, and I tap her on the shoulder. She turned over and sat up on her elbows and gave me an evil stare for waking her out of her sleep.

Who the hell is Lula, and why is she calling you at three in the morning, and may I add several times? I snapped.

She looks at her phone, sucks her teeth, and then rolls her eyes at me.

Blue, it is just a client I am working with now that I have my certification. Remember, I am a life coach, and sometimes clients call even if it is late at night. Since the layoff, I had to start a side hustle. I can’t leave all the bills and the responsibilities of the household on you.

"Oh yes, that gig you told me about with these rude motherfuckers having no understanding of respect. No damn client should be calling at three in the morning. I do not care who it is. While coaching her, teach her time management and care for our home. It would help if you focused on raising our daughter; the bills and everything you need I have covered. It is why I work so hard, so you do not have to. I kicked the covers off, my neck felt tight, and I twisted it side to side. Treasure huffed and jumped up when the phone rang again. I cut my eye at her and then the phone. She hit the ignore button and held the phone in her hand.

I don’t say anything when William calls with an urgent matter in the dead of night with my Brother’s Keeper. When my client calls, it is being disrespectful. In this marriage, the same rules should apply, and it is not some gig. I scuffed.

William has never once called at three o’clock in the morning about business. The latest has been at midnight, and that was only once. Lula is calling every fucking day in the dead of night. Like I said before, your focus should be on taking care of our daughter and our household. What you are doing is playing captain save a chick to folks who do nothing but whine all day. You are babysitting, not doing anything of value. Our daughter lately is always at your parent’s house. Let me shut the fuck up before I get into your ass about several things.

I swallowed and ran my tongue across my teeth as she headed to the bathroom to take her all-so-urgent call. She glared at me and sucked her teeth.

Treasure, if she is your client, then why does the conversation have to be conducted in the bathroom?

She put her hand on her hip, cocked her head to the side, and said,

Confidentiality. I still must abide by HIPAA rules and regulations. She is in a crisis.

Yeah, aright. I’m telling you fuck around and see what happens. I lit a cigarette and took a long drag.

She walked into the bathroom and slammed the door. Ten minutes later, she steps out of the bathroom, dressed in a sexy blue nightgown, and those patent leather heels I like her in, her dimples and breasts cause me to forget what agitated me in the first place. I can smell the scent of her favorite perfume Belle. We have not had made love in a month.

I’m so sorry, and I told her never to call this late again. Can I show you, my apology?

She walked close to me, stood in between my legs, lifted my chin, and kissed me. I moaned Treasure’s name, and just like that, all is forgiven for the moment. Yet, the knot in my stomach will not let my mind stop resting on the fact she is hiding something. She bows before me, puts my dick to her lips, kisses it, licks it, and rubs it in between her breasts. The freaky shit she is doing with her lips and being in love allows me to respond to her touch. My mind is resting on what is going on with my wife and is she is cheating on me.

Lies, Love & Lee

It is the middle of the night, and our daughter is sleeping. Blue, my husband, and I have just finished making love. I should feel electric and alive, but I am worrying, my thoughts all over. His broad shoulders and solid build, his Hershey chocolate complexion, and the love he has for me are undeniable.

When we first married my husband asked that I tell him the truth about everything. We never keep secrets in our marriage. Hell, it became a clause in our wedding vows, but I cannot do it. I am afraid of losing him and fearful of telling him about my friend. How do you tell your husband your best friend is a man? That he has time for me, and he listens to me, and I like that he notices me. I cannot tell my husband that he lacks something and is causing a wedge in our marriage. I love him, but he is law and order in Harper’s Blue world. He can work all night, and I must tend to our daughter alone. I am losing myself to keep him the way I did with Jeremy.

He runs his hand through my braids, kissing my forehead and pulling me close.

You okay.

I wipe the tear forming in my eyes and kiss his lips.

Yes, I answer.

His hands now trace the outline of my body and touch my butt. I feel his hardness on my belly button. I moan as he kisses my neck, traces his tongue to my nipples, suckling, biting softly, and making me wetter than Niagara Falls. I kiss him again, this time longer, and he adjusts his body so I can guide him inside of me. Making love to this man is so beautiful and romantic. He holds my butt, moving my body to match his rhythm. We switched positions. I am now on my back. He puts my ankles around his neck, and enters me slowly at first, then deepening his strokes until I call out his name. His rhythm sends shock waves of pleasure and curse words from my lips. He kisses my breast and puts one of my nipples in his mouth. In my head  my therapist appears without permission. I envisioned Lee kissing me and pulling my hair, tracing his tongue around my breasts instead of my husband. I shake my head and call out Blue’s name to erase Lee’s face. I lick his chest and wrap my arms around Blue. He kisses me, plays in my braids, his heavy breathing and his heart beating fast in my ear.

I love you.

Baby, I love you too.

After the second round, he closes his eyes, softly he snores, and I rise to go to the bathroom. I pick up my cell phone and dial the one-person number that will listen when I need to talk. No answer and I leave a message,

Call me when you get this message. I need to talk to you. Blue is standing at the door, his arms folded against his naked body.

Who would you be calling at this time of night? I twirl my hair, and instantly Tasiyana's name pops into my head.

Tasiyana.

Tasiyana at five o’clock in the fucking morning just like Lula calling back-to-back at three o’clock in the morning. What did I tell you about lying to me? I sucked my teeth, and I am glad I dialed Tasiyana’s number and erased the one I dialed. I hand Blue the phone, and he looks at the number.

I am worried about her. She sounded down, and I wanted to check on her, that's all, baby. I twirl my hair some more and forget it is the lie detector that is beeping loud and clear.

He throws the phone on the vanity and slams the bathroom door. I can feel his anger as I open the door. He stared; he ran his tongue over his teeth and shook his head. He knows me, and it’s not easy to explain what is going on, and I am not cheating on him. I just need someone to talk to and listen without judging me. Blue works eighteen-hour shifts between college, the store, and his internship at my Brother’s Keeper. We rarely spend time together. Some days he comes home so exhausted I don’t want to bear my burdens on him. I know he is trying to build a better life for himself and us. His fight is more complex because he is trying to reclaim the ten years of his life back. I am aware, but I miss him so much.

Blue, you have to trust me. He pulled a cigarette out of the pack and lit it.

I do trust you to lie to me when you want to hide shit.

"Why do you doubt me? He plucks the ashes in the astray and puts his head against the pillow. He looks me in the eyes.

I know you, Treasure, and I know when you are fucking lying to me, and tonight you are lying. I get in the bed and lay down next to him.

Blue, you saw Tasiyana number.

You fucking around on me with the next man? You better be smart and end it. Just because I gave up the street life doesn’t mean I won’t cap a bullet in his ass. He yelled.

I’m not cheating on you. At least, I think. There is nothing wrong with having a male friend.

As much as I love you if I find out you are fucking me over. I’ll fire your ass from my life for good this time. I’m tired, and it’s the first of the month, so I want to open early for the crowd.

He turned his back to me and pulled the covers over his head. I try to put my arm around him, and he pushes it off. It would be so easy to tell him and so hard to explain what has been going on these past few months. I would not say I like it when he thinks I am fooling around, but it is the only way I know he cares. Lately, I cannot tell anymore if my being his wife is what he wants. We do nothing together anymore. I am getting a headache thinking about it.

The sunlight is rising, and I realize I have not slept at all. I hear Miracle’s signature knock on the door and the sounds of her little feet walking across the floor. She runs and jumps into the bed and kisses me.

Good morning, Mommy.

Good morning, Princess. I hug and kiss her.

I turn on the cartoons, and I hear the shower water running. I walk into the bathroom while our daughter is watching Dora. I sit on the toilet, and I wait for him to step out. The scent of Axe shower gel smells so good. I am sweating as the steam covers the bathroom. He steps out, and his body is lovely as the water drips down his dark chocolate body. The girth and length of his manhood are semi-hard, his skin glistening, and makes me moist between my thighs. I waited for his kiss, but he instead said,

You’re sitting on my towel. Pass it to me.

I hand it to him, and he turns his back to me; he lotions with shea butter, throws on a pair of jeans, a thermal shirt, his socks, and his boots. He walks past me as if I am invisible. He walks out and slams the bathroom door. I hear Miracle squeal.

Hi, Daddy.

What’s good with Daddy’s Princess.

I’m terrific. Guess how much I love you, Daddy?

A lot. She stretches her arms out wide.

No, silly Daddy. I love you this wide and a million much. She wraps her arms around his and squeezes it. She looks like him with his dark complexion, broad nose, and dimples.

Daddy loves you a gazillion much. This weekend Daddy is taking you to Disney on Ice, and then guess where your favorite place is.

Chuck E Cheese. Yay! She smothers his face with kisses and hugs him.

Daddy has to go to work, but I’ll stop back in and have lunch with my favorite girls. He kisses me on the lips and hugs me.

I love you, and everything I am doing is for us. I get scared of losing my family; this is all I have. Treasure, I don’t know what’s going on with you, but you can always talk to me.

I am not going anywhere, and no man could take your place. I love you too.

He is out the door and in his white van. No matter how many arguments we may have, that kiss and hug let me know we will be okay. It’s my insurance policy that we will last.

I traded in the life of an executive by following in my mother’s footsteps of being a great wife. After the agency laid me off, I fell into it quickly, starting with a morning breakfast, laundry, arts, and crafts with Miracle and reading a story. Blue asked that I stay home and let him take care of us, and I agreed. I never knew that I would miss working, so I went and became a certified life coach. My nights are plagued with nightmares of Jeremy’s bloody body on the gurney; during the day, it is begging my husband to spend time with me. So, I went to therapy and met Lee. He, at first, was just my therapist who began texting and calling me. Whenever Blue would cancel, or an argument occurred, I turned to Lee for counseling. In the beginning, it was an innocent walk around the park, him hugging me, and then a kiss.

Blue and I are no longer are connected as husband and wife, and damn it, I am fighting, but I think I am losing the battle. I love my husband, God knows I do, but how often can he cancel our dates or not spend time with us. I admire his work ethic, but a part of me feels as if he is still punishing me for marrying Jeremy. That he married me because I was pregnant with his child. I’ve loved him since I was a teenager, and there is no love more robust. Then Lee appears to be the companion, therapist, and friend. A married woman can be friends with a single man; what is going on with Lee is innocent. I can’t tell Blue because he is so jealous, and he is always right in his world. He can’t see past his opinions, and mine doesn’t matter.

The phone rings, and his name flashes under Lula. I answer on the third ring, take a deep breath, and smile at the sound of his voice.

Hello.

I called you last night. You must have been sleeping or busy with your husband.

I cleared my throat and looked at my daughter playing with her doll.

Yeah, we were busy?

The tears and frustration I’ve hidden from my husband, began to show. I turned my back from my daughter and wiped my eyes.

"I love him, but I am tired of fighting for his attention. I feel like Jeremy has jumped into him. I don’t know; so much is on my