So You Call Yourself a Man by Carl Weber Page A

much.”
    â€œI love you too, Mrs. Williams,” I murmured between kisses.
    Alison tried to take off my shirt. I was sure she wanted to make love, but I resisted. I wanted to build things up before we made love. I wanted our lovemaking to cap off the most wonderful day of our lives.
    â€œHow about we go take a walk on the beach?” I suggested.
    â€œOooh, Brent, that sounds so romantic.” Alison squealed.
    â€œGood, then come on. Let’s unpack these bags and get our bathing suits on.”
    Alison smiled her agreement, but then a reluctant, self-conscious look came over her face. “You know what? I don’t think that’s such a good idea. Why don’t we just stay in the room?”
    â€œStay in the room? Alison, I know you wanna make love, but we’ve got all night to do that. We’re on a tropical island, sweetheart. Don’t you wanna walk along the warm beach with the sun on your back and a Bahama Mama in your hand?”
    â€œNot if I gotta wear a bathing suit, I don’t.” She sat on the bed, pouting. “Did you see how skinny those women were, standing by the pool?”
    â€œYeah, and?”
    â€œI don’t look like them in a bathing suit, all right? I’m not going to go out there and embarrass you, Brent.”
    â€œEmbarrass me how? I don’t want those women. I just want you. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, Alison, and you’re beautiful to me. Why do you think I married you? Now, go on and get in your bathing suit. I’m going to get my trunks so I can take a walk with the prettiest woman on the island, my wife, Mrs. Alison Williams.”
    Looking a little less tense, Alison went into the bathroom. She came out sporting a black-and-white sarong wrapped over a one-piece black bathing suit, and I swear she looked twenty pounds slimmer. She had a white-and-black scarf wrapped around her hair, which gave her a sassy look.
    â€œMmm, mmm, mmm, now what were you worried about? ’Cause those girls by the pool ain’t got nothin’ on you.” I walked over and kissed her.
    The beach was crowded with women wearing what looked like G-strings more than bikinis. Some were even sunbathing with their tops off, but I didn’t pay them no mind. I was very happy with who I was with. Although some of them were with their men, the majority of the women seemed to be like the sister in Terry McMillan’s How Stella Got Her Groove Back. They were there with their girlfriends, and they were on the prowl. A few of them even tried to holler at me when I went to get Alison and myself some drinks from the beachside bar, but I made it very clear that I was with my wife and that they didn’t have nothin’ for me that she didn’t have more of.
    With drinks in hand, Alison and I strolled along the beach. At first she seemed a little self-conscious, but as we continued to walk, I held her hand and she became more comfortable. I’m not going to lie, there were more than a few people staring at us, especially the sistahs, but whenever they stared, I just pulled her in closer.
    â€œBrent, I know we never put a time on it, but I wanna have a baby right away.”
    â€œSounds like you been talking to First Lady Wilson again.”
    â€œWe’ve had a few conversations. But that’s not why I wanna have a baby right away. I love you, Brent, and I just want a piece of you inside.”
    I smiled. “I love you too, Alison, and I can’t wait to have a child with you.”
    â€œGood, because I didn’t bring any kind of protection.” We both laughed. “I wanna have a house full of babies for you. Four, maybe even five kids.”
    â€œWow, are you sure? That’s a lot of wear and tear on your body.”
    She let go of my hand and wrapped her arm around my waist. “I don’t care what it does to my body. I just wanna make you happy and be the mother of your children. You know, sometimes