Stolen Moments

by Clifford "Spud" Johnson

Genres: African American Urban

Synopsis

A stolen moment from a man's past puts his future in jeopardy.
Razier is young, handsome, and has a severe lack of control when it comes to women. Even after several warnings from his loving mother, he just can't help himself. Then he meets an older woman who changes his life in a way that every
man dreams of. All of a sudden, he has everything he's ever wanted: lots of sex, a successful business, a new home, a new car, and a wardrobe that would break your heart. When a past indiscretion from his time in the Navy resurfaces, it puts
all that he has gained at risk. Will Razier choose sex and money, or will he do the right thing?

Release date: June 29, 2021

Publisher: Urban Books

Print pages: 288

Sample

It had been one year since his dishonorable discharge from the navy for conduct unbecoming of an officer and six months since he moved out of his mother’s home. She had been so angry with him when he returned home that he honestly thought she was going to try to spank him as if he were still a little kid. Razier smiled at that thought as he got out of his bed to start his day. He had a busy schedule and didn’t have any time to waste. He hoped that his mother cooked breakfast because he was starving. Since his first yard to service was in the neighborhood he grew up in, he figured he’d slide on by his mother’s home and snatch a quick bite to eat. Though she had been disappointed in him, his mother would forever be his most loyal supporter. She proved that by loaning him the money to start his lawn service. In one year, he paid her half of the $60,000 she loaned him. Now that he paid off his debt, he was ready to start up his next business—a pool cleaning service.

When Razier returned home, he was determined to do what he needed to do to make an honest living. First on his list was to start the lawn service. Then he would begin the pool cleaning service with the money earned through the spring and summer months. He had another plan for the winter, and it was already set in motion. He was going to cater parties for the grown and sexy. He wanted to cater to adults who were serious about having the “right” type of parties. No way would he do anything for anyone under the age of 30 unless he was positive they were on a mature level. The kids nowadays were so off the charts that he didn’t want to have anything to with that type of atmosphere. He was in a serious grind mode, and he intended to get the money and had no problems working his ass off to get it.

Razier slowly built up the lawn service by outbidding every other lawn service in the city. He had the lowest prices with quality work that spoke for itself. He went from three yards a week to six, and before he realized it, he was doing ten yards a week, and the money started rolling in. To see him working so hard made his mother proud of him, even though she had been devastated by his dishonorable discharge.

When Razier told her of his plans to open the pool cleaning service, she felt he was adding too much to his plate too soon. But he assured her that this was what he needed to do, and he was determined to handle everything he put in front of him. Failure wasn’t an option. He stuck to a strict system, and so far, he’d been able to handle everything, and his bank account showed his hard work was paying off.

He’d gotten a loan for the preowned truck he would use for the pool cleaning supplies, and he already built up several clients, most of whom he did weekly yard work for. Razier had a plan, and it would fit right into his weekly schedule without interrupting his daily program. He would schedule pool cleanings around the areas where he would do the lawns. So after he did a lawn, he would come back in the evening when it was cooler and clean pools. He calculated with the extra income from the pool cleaning, he would be in a prime position for when the winter months arrived.

Razier had cards made online for all his businesses, and every time he did a yard, he made sure he left a card to let his clients know that he was a man wearing many hats. Lawn service with the best prices weekly, a pool cleaning service with two pool cleanings a month at a superlow price, and last, his catering service that served everything from seafood to soul food . . . He was serious about his grind, and he was winning, and it felt really good.

The one thing that bothered him on a daily was the fact that he hadn’t been able to locate Carmi. Razier thought about her every single day, and every single day he felt ashamed of ruining her stellar career as a senior naval chief. Carmi was the reason why he had chosen to work so hard. He used his work to replace sex. He didn’t think he would be able to do it, but he chose to remain celibate because he had to get control of his tender-dick issues. Razier smiled while he was showering as he thought back to when he told his mother about his decision to abstain.

She laughed and said, “That will be the day, boy. You need to quit that storytelling.” Her words stung but gave him more motivation to stick to the script he planned. And so far, he’d been back home for eighteen months, and he hadn’t had sex once. There were plenty of nights that he made love to his right hand while watching porn-star. com on his laptop, though. He admitted to himself that it was hard, but no matter what, he would make it.

Razier kept busy and worked hard every day so that when he came home, the only thing on his mind was sleeping. Every night he closed his eyes, he saw the beautiful face of Carmi, and his heart ached. He missed her, and what was even crazier to him was that he realized that it had been way more than just sex with them. He loved her. Damn.

When Razier pulled into his mother’s driveway, he saw that the widow who stayed next door to his mother was outside watering her grass while wearing a pair of shorts and a tiny T-shirt showing plenty of cleavage. He laughed because Mrs. Hopkins was every bit of 60-plus. Even still, she looked good, and she knew it, so she made sure she came out every morning and gave the males in the neighborhood an eyeful, pissing off plenty of wives on the block. He jumped out of his truck and admired Mrs. Hopkins for a moment, then said, “Good morning, Mrs. Hopkins. How are you?”

She waved and said, “Hiya, Razi. I’m fine. How you today?”

“Good. Getting ready to work hard all day long in this heat. I’ll be sure to do your yard Saturday unless you want me to squeeze you in this afternoon?”

“No rush, baby. Saturday is fine with me.”

“Okay, see ya later.”

“Mm-hmm, you sure will.”

He laughed as he went inside his mother’s house to the aroma of some bacon and eggs. “Yes,” he said to himself as he stepped into the kitchen and saw his mother standing in front of the stove.

“Hi, Mama.”

“Hey, Razi. Now, how did I know your butt would be here this morning to eat up all my food?”

“Because you know your son works like a dog and barely has time to cook something to eat. I’m sure glad you made something I want because I’m starved.”

“Something you want? Humph, boy, you need to quit that. I haven’t seen a meal you would turn down. And you know my rule.”

Laughing, he said, “Yes, I know your rule, Mama. There are only two choices on your menu: take it or leave it.”

She smiled lovingly at her only child and said, “That’s right. Ever since I heard the great comedian Buddy Hackett use that quip when your father took me to see him back in the day, I took it and stuck with it, and, boy, did that make your daddy mad sometimes.”

“You’re something else, you know that?”

“That, I am. Now sit your tail down and eat. I know you have to hurry up and start your day.”

Once he was seated at the dining room table, Mrs. Coleman came and set a plate full of bacon and eggs before him and then asked him whether he wanted milk or juice. Before he could answer, she came and poured him a glass of milk. “I knew you would say juice, and that’s why you get milk. Does the body good.”

“If you knew I wanted juice, why give me milk, Mama?”

“Mothers knows best, Razi, and don’t you ever forget that.”

With a mouthful of eggs, he mumbled, “How can I ever forget that when you make sure you tell me that at least three times a week?”

She wore a smile on her face as she popped him on the back of his head. “Eat, smart mouth. Now tell me what that heifer, Mrs. Hopkins, was saying to you when you pulled up. I know she’s still not trying to get you in her bed, is she? Dang shame she done went and lost her mind since her husband passed. She’s trying her best to get every man in the neighborhood. Can’t believe she went and actually got that boob job. What woman her age does something like that?”

Razier almost choked on a piece of bacon and asked, “Boob job? Are you serious? Mrs. Hopkins has always had big boobs, Mama.”

“True. But do you notice how they stand up nice and firm now? She had a lift or something because those bad boys have suddenly defied gravity. Dang shame.”

“Sounds like you’re hating a little bit, Mama.”

“Hating isn’t in my DNA, son. Trust me. If your mother wanted, she would outshine Mrs. Hopkins any day of the week, and I’m five years older than her.”

Razier knew his mother spoke the truth because she was stunning, even at the age of 67. His mom, rocking her mature, short pixie cut combined with her flawless complexion and slim frame, was on point for sure. With pride in his voice, he said, “I know that’s right, Mama. Can you tell me, since you know you still got it going on like you did back in the day, why don’t you date?”

She smiled at him with a hint of mischief in her eyes and said, “Just because you don’t see men around me doesn’t mean I don’t do me, Razi. My business is not everyone else’s business, ya dig?”

He rolled his eyes as he finished the last of his food and downed his large glass of milk. “You know I hate it when you still try to talk like you hip with it.”

“Look who’s hating now. Gimme those dishes so that you can go on and get out there and get that cake.”

“Mama!”

Laughing, she took the dishes to the sink and stepped back in front of him. She kissed him on the cheek and said, “You have a good day, Razi. You do know I’m proud of you and all you’ve achieved thus far, right?”

He smiled because he loved his mother with all his heart, and she knew it. “I know, Mama. I ain’t done yet either. We about to get our clown on real big in a minute.”

She rolled her eyes at him and said, “Mm-hmm. What, you gon’ cop me something foreign soon? You know, like a Benz or a fly new Beamer? You know I’ll look way too fly hopping out of that new 750.”

“Mama, stop. You’re killing me with the lingo. Act your age, please.”

Laughing, she popped him on the back of the head again and said, “Get! Make sure you drink plenty of water outside in that heat all day. I don’t need to receive a call that you’ve been taken to the ER for falling out from dehydration.”

“I got my big twenty-gallon jug filled with ice water, Mama, I’ll be fine.”

“Good. Oh, Tracy Briggs called me last night.”

“Was it collect?”

“You know, if it were, I would have still accepted. No, he called me on a dang cell phone. You know, I asked him how in the heck did he get a cell phone while in prison.”

“What he say?”

“He laughed and told me that he would always have the best no matter where he was, so I just left it alone.”

“What was he talking about?”

“He wanted your number. He didn’t know that you moved out. I gave it to him, and he said he would give you a call today or the evening because he can only call at certain times. I guess because of those guards roaming around him or something.”

“Okay, that’s cool. Did he say when he was getting out, ’cause I know you asked?”

“Are you implying that I’m a nosy woman, Razi?” Before he could answer her question, she said, “Yes, I asked, and he told me soon. I asked how soon, and he laughed and said real soon. You know that irritated the heck out of me, so I told him bye and hung up on his tail.”

“I was hoping he would be home soon. It should be close. I want to try to get him to help me with the stuff I’m doing. I think if I can get him to work with me, we can really make some money together.”

“You know how lazy that boy is? I don’t know about that one, Razi.”

He shrugged and said, “We’ll see. Okay, Mama, let me go. Love you,” he said and kissed her.

“Love you too, Razi,” his mom said as she watched him leave the house.

Just as Razier was climbing inside of his truck, Mrs. Hopkins came to her front door with her hands on her hips, smiling at him. When she winked at him, he smiled and shook his head. She knows she needs to stop that, he thought as he started his truck. As he was pulling out of his mother’s driveway, he shot another glance toward Mrs. Hopkins, and he couldn’t help it when he felt a little stirring in his groin. “Damn, I must be really horny if I can let an old broad like Mrs. Hopkins get me fired up. Jeez, looks like it’s going to be a pornstar.com night tonight for sure,” he said to himself as he pressed the pedal to the metal. It was time to get to work.

The harder Razier worked, the faster his day seemed to go by. He was so thankful for his navy training and proud of himself for keeping his well toned body in tip-top shape by maintaining a healthy diet. He wished he could work out, but his schedule didn’t allow him that luxury, so he relied on his daily yard work in the sun to keep him fit. After finishing his last yard for the day, he was exhausted. All he wanted to do was grab a bite to eat from Subway, go home, shower, and hit the bed.

While he was loading his equipment on the back of his truck, his client came out to pay him, and it took all his self-control not to stare at the voluptuous older woman as she came toward him. Ms. Tolliver was somewhere in the late forties or early fifties, but her body made one think she was in her thirties. Tight and extra nice. She wasn’t all that pretty but was still sexy as all out. With her brown skin with slanted eyes that gave her a foreign, exotic look, she turned him on, causing Razier to ignore her somewhat large nose. “Calm down, boy,” he told himself as he closed the bed of his truck and turned to face Ms. Tolliver.

“Once again, I’d like to thank you, Razier, for adding me to your client list. I really like the work you do. I swear, those Mexicans I had used just rushed and left bags full of grass on my front lawn, and that irritated me to no end. When Wanda told me about your lawn service, I hoped and prayed you would be able to fit me in. I know you’re extremely busy.”

“No problem at all, Ms. Tolliver. Your yard is relatively small, so it was an easy fit. Glad you like my work. I hope you give me a good word to your friends who may need my services.”

She smiled at him, and her pearly, white-capped teeth seemed to be extra bright as she stared at him for a moment before speaking. “Oh, I’m sure I can find some friends who would love your services, Razier. As a matter of fact, I think I have a few in mind. Tell me, are you done for the day?”

“Yes, you were my last yard for the day.”

“How many yards did you do today?”

“Twelve.”

“Have you eaten anything?”

“I had a good breakfast. Other than that, just a couple of PowerBars and water.”

“You must be starving. Why don’t you let me have the honor of taking you for a bite to eat? We can go to the Flint located at the bottom of the historic Colcord Hotel. It has a great view of Myriad Gardens on one side and sits in the shadows of the beautiful Devon Tower. You know, that tall building downtown?”

“I’m really kinda tired, Ms. Tolliver.”

Shaking her head no, she said, “First, you call me Olivia. You make me feel like a grandma with that ‘Ms. Tolliver’ crap.”

He smiled. “Okay, Olivia.”

“Second, I’m not taking no for an answer, Razier. You are an extremely handsome young man, and I’d love to take you to the Flint for a nice meal and some conversation in hopes of getting to know you better. So, you go home, get showered, and give me a call. Then I’ll come and get you, and we’ll go out and hopefully have a very good evening. I know you’re a very hardworking young man, so I won’t keep you out too long.”

“I guess since you insist, I have no other choice but to accept.”

“That’s correct, Razier, you don’t. Here’s my number,” she said as she gave him a card with her name and number on it. She also handed him his money for the month and said, “No need to get dressed up. Some casual clothing will suffice.”

“Okay. It’ll take me a couple of hours to get home and get my equipment cleaned up for my jobs tomorrow. After I handle that, I’ll get showered and give you a call.”

“No problem. I’ll be waiting for your call,” Olivia said as she turned in her flip-flops and walked back inside of her home.

Razier stared at the slim goody frame she had and moaned, “It’s going to be really hard to maintain this celibacy crap,” he said as he got inside of his truck and headed home, thinking at least he’d get a good meal tonight.

It took Razier longer than he expected because he had to fix a gas leak in one of his lawn mowers. When he had that task taken care of, he went inside his apartment, took a quick shower, and started getting dressed. The shower refreshed him, but he was still tired and almost called Olivia to cancel their date, but something told him he’d better not. He didn’t want to make a client feel rejected was his excuse as he grabbed her card and gave her a call to give her directions to his apartment located on the North Side of town not too far from her home on the Northwest Side.

After he hung up the phone with Olivia, he sat down on his couch and thought about the fourteen yards he had to do the next day. Friday was his busiest day, and he knew he would need all his strength to handle them. He had some pretty big yards to tackle in Edmond and Midwest City. As those thoughts crossed his mind, he was also thinking about his best friend, Tracy Briggs. He hoped he came home soon because he needed his help in a major way. If he could talk Tracy into coming into business with him as a partner, they could handle his workload easier, and that would open up the room he would need to start the pool cleaning service. He would then be one more step closer to getting that food truck he wanted so he could join the H&8th Food Truck chain, and then the money would really start rolling in. He was determined to get that truck along with his catering service in the winter. Accomplishing that, he would be able to get that brownstone condo he had his eyes on. He heard Russell Westbrook just purchased one for a little over $2 million. He wouldn’t get that fly with it, but he would definitely be nice staying in one of the two to three hundred thousand-dollar ones located close to downtown.

He sat there daydreaming about that condo and didn’t even realize that he’d dozed off until he heard the doorbell ring. He opened his eyes, jumped up from the couch, and straightened his clothing as he walked to the door. When he opened the door, Olivia was looking stunning in a sundress with some sandals on her small, pretty feet. She smiled at him and said, “You ready to take an old lady to dinner, Razier?”

Though he was dead tired, staring at her firm C-cups with cleavage pouring out of her dress, Razier smiled and said, “Definitely. You’re looking beautiful this evening, Olivia. Age is nothing but a number, and you’re living proof.”

She laughed and said, “Flattery will get you in trouble, Razier, so be nice, or I’ll be naughty.”

Laughing, he said, “I thought I was being nice.”

She grabbed his hand. “You were. I just want an excuse to be naughty.” She saw the look on his face and laughed. “Don’t be scared. I won’t bite you . . . not too hard at least.” They both laughed as she led him out of his apartment toward her BMW 5 Series. Once they were on their way, she asked him a few questions about this and that, making the conversation flow nice and easy. He knew she was flirting, and he was flattered, but he just wasn’t interested. He was sticking to his guns, even though his man piece was screaming at him, telling him he needed to get deep inside of some women’s flesh.

By the time they made it to the restaurant, he knew that tonight might just be the night he loses his eighteen months of celibacy. He felt a twinge of guilt because he thought about Carmi. Life had to keep rolling, and he couldn’t keep torturing himself for a past wrong. He didn’t mean to get Carmi kicked out of the navy. He knew that, but he still felt guilty about it.

After enjoying a nice meal of baked chicken breast, salad, and string beans, Razier and Olivia enjoyed the view of the Myriad Gardens and chatted about the state of their beloved Oklahoma City Thunder and the upcoming season.

“We need to make a move for another big man, and I think we’ll be ready to make a serious run at the championship next season. I love me some Ibaka. Big Perkins does his job defensively, but he gives us nothing on the offensive end. We need a low post presence so that it can open things up for Westbrook to knock down those jump shots,” Razier said as he sipped some water.

“I agree. I think this is the year that Scott Brooks makes it all gel the right way. K. D. loves his partner in crime, but he has to get Westbrook to be more of a true point guard at times. To me, that will only happen if Scott Brooks puts his foot down. Westbrook is great, don’t get me wrong, but we need him to learn to facilitate more. We’re still in for a big fight with those Spurs. The Western Conference is deadly deep. Not only do we have to worry about the Spurs, but those Clippers are also dangerous as well. We almost got beat by them, and that would have broken my heart. I hate everything about Los Angeles. Thank God in heaven those Lakers suck. I can’t stand Kobe. I was so happy when none of the top free agents went to the Lakers this year.”

“Wow, that’s some serious hate right there. Don’t get me wrong. It’s the Thunder or nothing, but growing up, I was a die-hard Laker fan. I loved how Shaq and Kobe did their thing. It’s kinda sad that he’s got no help out there with him now. Boozer is nothing. Nash is old and needs to hang it up. The young talent the Lakers have can help, but they won’t make any noise in the West. As you said, the West is loaded. Golden State, Portland, Houston, and Dallas can all be legitimate threats.”

“True, but those dang Spurs are the ones we have to worry about. Coach Pop has them running like a well-oiled machine,” she said as she took a sip of her . . .