After Shantelle returned from the grocery store, she noticed that Joe had returned home.....

"Hey baby..." Joe greeted his wife sheepishly.

"Hey my love." She responded.

"Been to the store, I see." Joe said, taking notice of the groceries on the counter.

"Yeah, I needed to get the ingredients for the macaroni and the peach cobbler for the cookout this evening." Shantelle said, smiling.

"Oh ok..that's cool. By the way, I called Dr. Moore and I have an appointment with her in a couple of days to either switch my medication or give me some other recommendations, so we can resume our sex life, 'cuz I've missed making love to you oh so much my baby." Joe said, as he took his wife into his arms and placed his forehead against hers.

"Oh my sweetheart, I've missed you too, you just don't know how much." Shantelle replied, as she kissed him passionately.

"I love you baby girl. Don't ever forget that." Joe said, passionately.

"And I love you too my Big Daddy." Shantelle replied.

As Shantelle started preparing the macaroni and cheese, Joe sat at the kitchen table watching his wife work with the biggest smile on his face.

"You're such a wonderful cook, I swear if I didn't work out, I'd be fat as hell." Joe teased.

"Well I have to be, else you probably wouldn't keep me around." She joked.

"Nah that's not true, I'd keep you even if you couldn't boil water." He laughed.

"Oh baby you're so sweet." She said, shyly.

"It's true baby. You're my dream girl, you're gorgeous, smart, sweet and can cook. I can't wait until you bear my children, you're so smart, I have no doubt that you'll teach my children well too." Joe said, getting emotional.

"It's interesting you bring the teaching up, as I had a teaching moment at the grocery store today." She said.

"Oh yeah? How's that." Joe asked.

"Well, as I was looking for the peaches for the cobbler, a gentleman came up to me and asked me how to pick good peaches." She said, casually.

Joe's lips started to get tight, and started to twitch.

"Did he now?" He said tightly. "And what did you say?"

"Yes and I explained that the softer the peaches were, the sweeter they were. I also told him that those particular peaches were for eating, but cooking peaches needed to be more firm and less ripe. He was such a nice man, he introduced himself and then kissed my hand." Shantelle said, casually as her back was turned to Joe.

At that moment, the smile immediately died on Joe's face.

"HE DID WHAT?!" Joe roared. "THE HELL YOU MEAN HE KISSED YOUR HAND!!!! HUH?!!"

Shantelle, startled at her husband's booming voice, turned to face him and was frightened by the look on his face.

"Me and my big mouth." Shantelle said under her breath.

"Excuse me? What was that you said?" Joe said as he got up from the table and walked over to his wife.

"Nothing baby." She replied, shaking her head.

"Nah!!! What did you just say?! Huh?" Joe snarled.

"I said, me and my big mouth, I should've just keep my mouth shut!" She replied, getting irritated.

"Oh so what? You wasn't gonna tell me?! Muthafuckas flirtin' with you in the muthafuckin' grocery store and you wasn't gonna tell me?!!" Joe yelled.

"Baby! It wasn't nothing to tell really. I didn't flirt back! Why are you so upset?" She asked.

"Why am I so upset, she asks." Joe laughed in attempt to control his rage.

"I'M NOT UPSET!!!!! I'M PISSED THE FUCK OFF!!!" Joe snapped, startling Shantelle.

"At who? Me?" Shantelle asked pointing to herself.

Joe was silent for a minute, trying to regain his composure before speaking again...

"No! At the asshole who thought it was a good idea to put his stinking lips on your hand!!" He said.

"Oh my goodness!!! Joe!!!! It was nothing!!" Shantelle pleaded with him, laughing and smiling.

"Woman!! What the hell you mean it was nothing?! Some strange man flirts with my wife and then kisses her hand?! Nah!!!! Bullshit!!! Who was he?! Huh?! What the fuck does he look like?! Tell me??!!!" Joe said through clenched teeth.

"I don't know, he looks a little like Idris Elba. Had a British accent too...I guess." Shantelle shrugged. "I don't know why you're making such a big ideal about it!"

"Next time you go to the store, I'm going with you!! Do you understand me?!!!" Joe yelled.

"That's not necessary, you don't have to escort me to store like I'm a little kid. I'm a big girl, and can go all by myself." Shantelle said, laughing at her husband.

Shantelle was finding Joe's behavior hilarious, but he didn't see anything funny, as evidenced by the anger etched on his face.

"I don't know what the hell you're laughing at, 'cuz I don't see a damn thing funny." Joe said in a low voice.

"Your behavior is funny because it's ridiculous. So what? So what are you gonna do? Huh? Beat up the stock boys for answering my question about an item or punch the cashier because he put the change in my hand and said hand lingered too long? Or spear the bag boy for saying have a nice day?!" Shantelle said, getting frustrated.

"If that's what it takes then yeah!" Joe said, matter of factly.

Shantelle couldn't believe Joe. Some random stranger was a little too friendly and now her husband was overreacting, and it was low key starting to get on her nerves.

"You know what Joe?! Just stop it!!! You are being ridiculous for absolutely no reason and to be honest, it's getting on my nerves! I'm starting to think that you don't trust me!" She yelled.

"I trust you, it's these assholes in the street that I don't fucking trust. Am I wrong for wanting to protect what belongs to me?! Huh?! Am I?! All I'm doing is being a man about mine!" Joe said, slapping his chest.

"No, but I just wish you weren't so intense about it." Shantelle said.

"Well I can't help it baby girl. You are my life...my whole life. You mean the world to me! Like I told you when we first got married, I will spill blood for you and about you. That's how strongly I feel about you. If I can't have you....NO ONE WILL! Do you understand me?" Joe said intently.

Shantelle looked into her husband's face and knew he was deadly serious....

"Yes baby I understand. W-well let me finish making this macaroni and get these peaches peeled for the cobbler. What time do we have to be at Joshua's house?" Shantelle asked, changing the subject.

"In about 3 hours." Joe replied.

"Ok well I'm gonna finish cooking." She said.

"Alright, well I'm gonna get caught up on some work in my office until it's time to leave." Joe said, as he went into his study.

At that moment, Shantelle shook her head and continued cooking.

TBC
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