Broken (Endurance) (35 page)

Max sat on the blanket looking out at the lagoon.  He finished his sandwich and Mei put away their wrappers and made herself comfortable leaning back on Max's chest as he gazed at the beautiful sunset.

Renee settled back onto a pillow of her clothes and relaxed. Samuel sat next to her, his attention on Max and Mei as he watched from the corner of his eye.

Max turned his focus to Mei who seemed to be drifting off to sleep. He nuzzled his nose into her hair, smelling the salty water and remnants of her jasmine shampoo. He looked down at her flat, lean stomach. Gently placing his hand on her stomach he whispered to her, "It's time for another one." He kissed her as he closed his eyes, enjoying the peacefulness.

"So how did you guys meet?" Samuel hoped to break up the romantic scene Max was enjoying.

"In high school. I’ve had a crush on her since I was like in middle school, maybe even younger. Her step-father used to own a youth center in the neighborhood we grew up in. My mother would drop me off there so that my father could pick me up for the weekends and stuff."

"Your parents are divorced?" Samuel asked.

"Yeah, and thank God. They were horrible together."

"I never knew my mother." Samuel looked out at the lagoon. "She was murdered."

Max turned his head to face Samuel. "I'm really sorry to hear that."

"It's sad and all, but you can't miss what you never had."

Max was a little bothered by his response. "My mother is a basket case. I mean she's not crazy, but she is just out for hers; a gold digger. My father learned that the hard way. I think he really loved her, but she didn't love anyone but herself."

Samuel nodded. He could relate to that. "My father wasn't ready to be a father when he got me. The servants raised me until they got too old and my father fired them."

"Too old?" Max thought of Winston. He could not imagine his father ever firing him.

"So how did you two end up married?" Samuel asked, changing the subject.

"It was my fault. Mei and her best friend were at a house party... Friday the thirteenth and this guy’s parents were out of town. I came across her chilling in the garden alone, drinking. I knew something was wrong. I just wanted to reach out to her and let her know that she could talk to me. She wasn't easy and I loved her attitude." Max looked at Samuel who was really into what he was saying. "Anyway, things got crazy and police showed up. She passed out from drinking some heavy stuff."

"Aw, man," Samuel said, smiling.

"My friend and her friend showed up and we had to think fast," Max ended.

"So you married her?" Samuel asked, confused.

"We did things we shouldn't have, but I don't regret it," Max confessed.

"So you had to marry her?"

"No, I wanted to marry her. For me it was the best mistake I ever made."

"Yeah, but you didn't have to marry her. She could have moved in with you and you guys could have lived together; no harm. Marriage is like crazy for someone your age. Especially being a guy who can get any chick."

"It's not like that for us. Mei is like my soul mate. If I could have married her at birth, I would have. I can't explain it, but she is a part of me. I really wouldn't know how else to explain it. I know... we are young and, if it wasn't for us having a child... I would have waited. I have no problem being with her and her alone. But I don't regret my son and I don't regret our marriage," Max said, not wanting to get to deep into the topic.

"I understand," Samuel lied. He really didn't, but wanted to block his conscious from interfering with his plans. After seeing how they interacted with each other today, he quickly realized that Mei and Max could not be separated. Thinking back to what his father had said, he began to hatch a new plan. If he couldn't have Mei, he would make Max not want her. Max would be repulsed by her if she were pregnant with his kid. Mei would have no choice but to be with Samuel.

He watched Max as he caressed his wife's flat stomach and whispering to her as she slept.  Samuel wanted that experience. He wanted everything Max had and he would get it by any means possible. Samuel gazed out beyond the sunset and remembered another secluded location; an old sandbar that was quickly becoming a one man island. This would be a perfect spot. Max would never find Mei there.

I'm Late!

Makayla reclined across from Tamarius on their private jet, flipping through her calendar to double check the dates for her upcoming photo shoots. She realized her period was two weeks late. It alarmed her, but thinking back to the negative test results she relaxed. She also felt she couldn't get pregnant easily and was planning a doctor's visit when they returned home.

"Something wrong?" Tamarius asked, noticing her peculiar facial expressions.

"Huh? No, nothing I just noticed my period is late.  Not to worry," she trailed off, looking into her calendar.

"Really?" Tamarius grabbed a magazine next to him and opened it up to read. He wasn’t really focused on what he was looking at.

Makayla sensed his energy change as she put her calendar down and looked at him.  Raising  an eyebrow, she questioned him. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah, why?" Tamarius tried to look interested in a magazine article.

"Oh, yeah, so... how do you get rid of stretch marks?" Makayla asked sarcastically. She turned her head to read the upside down magazine that Tamarius held.

"What?" Tamarius now focused on the magazine and realized he was holding it upside down. "I like to read this way. It strengthens my eyes."

Makayla laughed softly as she unbuckled her seatbelt and stood up to pull the magazine out of his hands. "What's going on? For the pass few weeks you won't let me work out or do anything really." Makayla looked down at him as she stood between his legs. "I'm not pregnant."

Tamarius reclined his chair then pulled Makayla to sit on his lap. "I know." He hugged her.

"I wish I was."

Tamarius kissed her cheek and squeezed her tight. "We will have many children."

"Watching Uriel last night was hard for me."

"Don't worry about it. Let’s just enjoy our marriage. We will be chasing kids soon enough."

"I don't know." She got up.

"Where are you going?" He held onto her.

Makayla smiled. "Back to my seat."

"No, stay here."

"Are you ready to deal with those demons," Makayla asked, getting comfortable on Tamarius's chest.

"I don't want to talk about demons." Tamarius smiled.

"I can help."

"No."

"You’re not going to be all macho by yourself."

"Yes."

"T, I can help. Don't pull a superman."

"Superman... whatever. I can handle it. I've been through worse, and besides, you should help Tia. I'm sure she would be glad for your help," Tamarius said, trying to place her interest elsewhere.

"Is this because of last time?" Makayla asked.

"What do you mean?"

"When Soul Reaper had me by the neck."

Tamarius sighed as he rubbed Makayla's arm. "No," he answered.

"Then why?" Makayla asked.

"Kay, I know you can handle yourself, but this demon is after you. He has no intention of giving up. So just for this once, please just sit it out," Tamarius pleaded.

"Be a bench warmer?" Makayla teased.

Tamarius smiled as dirty thoughts came to his mind. "You don't have to warm benches. I got something better." He grinned.

Makayla laughed as she slapped his chest. "You're too much."

Tamarius looked down at her as he wrapped his arms around her. He didn't want her involved, but couldn't tell her why. He also didn't want to get in a fight with her over it. "Yeah, I need to prepare myself before..."

"I don't like you doing it alone," Makayla mumbled as she drifted off to sleep.

Tamarius just closed his eyes as he leaned his head on hers. He had to find a way to keep her away from cleansing the old orphanage. He would have to do it behind her back or keep her distracted with something else. He figured Tia would need help planning out the new orphanage. Tamarius prayed that his wife would be kept busy elsewhere.

It was after eleven when they made it to their hotel room in Port of Spain, Trinidad. Tamarius and Makayla stumbled into the presidential suite. The bellhop brought in their luggage and set everything in the foyer. Tamarius quickly handed him a generous tip before he left. He walked into the bedroom and stripped off his clothes and kicked off his shoes.

Makayla came out of the bathroom after brushing her teeth. She stripped down to her underclothes and slipped under the covers. Tamarius smiled as she didn't hesitate to fall asleep. He brushed his teeth finding a new burst of energy. He walked out into the living room to communicate with his spirit guide. He called for Mathius who appeared instantly on the couch.

"Yes?" he answered.

"Mathius." Tamarius smiled.

"How is married life?" Mathius smiled as Tamarius sat down on the couch next to him.

"I love being married to Makayla. She is a breath of fresh air."

"You’re worried about her?"

"Yeah, I don't want her involved in cleaning up that orphanage."

"Tamarius, all I can tell you is you have a major battle ahead. You’re very powerful, but you’re not going to be able to do handle it alone. A lot is about to happen beside what's going on with Makayla. All of God's warriors are now coming together to fight along side each other. This is why you and Makayla have come together. You must protect your wife as you should. Right now she cannot fight, but remember she is not weak and feeble. That’s one of the qualities that drew you in." Mathius smiled.

"Yeah, it is. I just don't want her in danger."

"You’re embracing your new role very well and I'm proud of you.  Don't worry, son. God does not give you more that you can handle," Mathius said, looking at Tamarius.

"Thank you, Mathius."

"I gotta go see about some other people. Call me." Mathius vanished.

Tamarius laughed to himself and thought, we never really die. He walked back into the bedroom.

After taking off his shirt and pants he slipped into bed with his wife and pulled her close as he drifted off to sleep. It felt like he’d just fallen asleep when he was awakened by Makayla talking to someone in the living room. Tamarius turned in his bed and slowly sat up.

Makayla was backing into the room pulling in a room service cart with her back to him. As she was busy setting up the table, Makayla noticed Tamarius staring at her and smiling. "Good morning," Makayla said, smiling back at him and admiring his handsome smile.

"When did you get up?" Tamarius asked, getting out of bed to brush his teeth.

"I got up about an hour ago," Makayla answered, uncovering the plates of food. "I need to go see Tia. She needs help with the new orphanage. Do you want to come?"

Tamarius instantly saw this as an opportunity to start working on the cleansing the old

orphanage. "No, I have a meeting," he said, trying to avoid lying to his wife.

"I thought you were finished with all your meetings?" Makayla questioned as he walked back into the room.