Perfect Pleasures

by Deborah Fletcher Mello

  “Do you visit often?”

  Zachary laughed, his head shaking from side to side. “No. I wouldn’t like that kind of surprise because they are beautiful.” He leaned to kiss her cheek. “But not one of them is as beautiful as you are!”

  “Good answer!” Kenzie said with a giggle. “Very good answer!”

  He smiled. “I try hard.”

  “Is Franklin transsexual? I’ve been saying he and him. I haven’t offended him, have I?”

  Zachary shook his head. “No. He’s a gay male who makes his living dressing in drag and singing show tunes. And if you had offended him, he would have set you straight. Trust me!” He smiled.

  “You seem very comfortable with the culture and all of this,” she said gesturing with her hands. “That surprises me, with you being so macho!”

  Zachary shrugged. “It is what it is. I don’t have any reason not to be respectful or accepting. Franklin has proven himself to be a great friend. How he lives his life doesn’t have anything to do with how I choose to live mine. He deserves to be happy as much as anyone else does, maybe even more so because there are people who are judgmental about who and how he is. How all of these women choose to live their lives is their personal choice. I can’t judge. I don’t have a heaven or hell to put them in.”

  The room lights suddenly flickered, and the sound system was lowered until it felt like background music. A single spotlight was focused on the stage, and the velvet curtains rose slowly. Stepping into the light, Barbie was a sight to behold. He’d changed into a ruby-red dress and matching stilettos. The dress was split thigh high, exposing fishnet stockings and a white garter belt. His wig was big and bold, a black afro that seemed miles wide. His makeup was flawless, his lips crimson, black eyelashes forest thick, and his eyeshadow a complementary shade of gold.

  His voice was loud and booming as he spoke into the microphone. “Good evening, darlings! Welcome to Club She! I’m Barbie Doll, but call me Barbie or Doll . . . just call me!” He laughed heartily. “I’m your hostess with the most-est, and I’m here to insure you have a fabulous time!” He glided from one side of the stage to the other, his wide hips leading the way.

  The music suddenly boomed, and a cavalcade of dancers joined Barbie on the dance floor. He was suddenly doing an impressive Beyoncé karaoke, claiming that he and his brigade ruled the world. They followed that number with what Barbie called his diva hit list. There was some old school Tina Turner, Diana Ross’s “Love Hangover,” Celine Dion’s “All By Myself,” and Shakira’s “Hips Don’t Lie.” The mix was big and bold, but nowhere near as big as Barbie’s stage presence. He commanded attention, grabbed it by the throat, shook the life out of, and held on with everything in him.

  Kenzie understood completely why the space was suddenly standing room only, eager patrons pushing to get inside. When Barbie’s show was done, his team of dancers took center stage, lithe young bodies twerking and shaking with everything in them. The men in the crowd went crazy, and the tips flowed like water. Even the few females in the crowd showed their appreciation, sending money raining down like it was storming. Everything about the entire night was one good time.

  “I want to be just like Barbie when I grow up!” Kenzie exclaimed.

  Zachary laughed. “Do you sing? Dance?”

  “I can hold a note, and my two-step is always on point.”

  “I’ll put in a good word for you then. I’m sure Franklin will love to have you!”

  “I heard my government name. Who’s talking about me?” Barbie suddenly exclaimed, moving to join them at the table.” He hugged one and then the other.

  “I was saying how spectacular you were!” Kenzie exclaimed, imitating her new friend’s flamboyant gestures. “You stole the show!”

  Barbie giggled “I was good, wasn’t I?” he responded, his bright smile filling his face. He pulled his fingers through his thick goatee. “It’s such a chore being so beautiful!”

  Kenzie laughed as the three fell into an easy conversation with each other. Barbie kept her laughing with stories about Zachary and their friendship; then it dawned on her that the two had known each other since the beginning of Zachary’s career.

  “Barbie, did you know my father, Kai Tamura?” She looked curiously from Barbie to Zachary and back. The two men exchanged a look, and it suddenly felt as if someone had dumped ice water over the table.

  Barbie sat back in his seat, folding his hands together in his lap. “I did know your father. He was a dear friend, and of course, his championship status made him quite the local hero. People would flock in to sit with him when he would come to visit.”

  Kenzie sat forward in his seat, her expression hopeful. “You don’t seem surprised to hear that he had a daughter.”

  Barbie’s gaze shifted toward Zachary.

  “I told him, Kenzie. I wanted him to be ready in case you decided to interrogate him,” Zachary said. He reached for his glass and took a sip, then gestured for another bottle.

  “So you warned him off, is what you’re saying?”

  Barbie laughed. “Not at all. Zachary thought you might have questions, and he thought I should know about your connection to my old friend.”

  “So you and my father were friends?”

  “We were. We were very good friends. He introduced me to this scoundrel!” Barbie gave Zachary a wink of his eye.

  “I haven’t had any luck finding him. Do you know where he is? Have you heard from him?”

  Barbie took a deep breath. “Kai was notorious for disappearing when he didn’t want to be found.”

  A wave of sadness washed over Kenzie’s expression, fueled by disappointment and one glass of champagne too many. Tears suddenly burned hot behind her eyelids.

  “Don’t,” Zachary said, reaching his hand out to caress her shoulder. “Don’t cry. Please!”

  She shook her head, her posture stiffening. “I wasn’t going to cry,” she muttered, avoiding his eyes. She stood abruptly. “I need to go to the restroom,” she said as she shuffled off in that direction, her high heels clicking against the floors.

  Zachary blew out a heavy sigh, suddenly feeling like the weight of Kenzie’s small world rested on his broad shoulders. Barbie had shifted forward in his seat, crossing his thick arms over his chest. He eyed the younger man intently.

  “I know,” Zachary quipped, seeming to read the other man’s mind.

  “It’s for the best, Zachary. She needs to know the truth. We’ve all been complicit in keeping the truth from her, and she deserves better from us.”

  “You aren’t telling me anything I haven’t told myself a half dozen times. I just know . . . well . . . ,” he hesitated.

  “What?” Barbie asked.

  “She’s going to hate me, and it may mean the end of our relationship. I don’t want to lose her, Franklin. I love her.”

  “And she loves you. She’s going to be hurt, but you two will work through it. I have faith!” Barbie blessed him with an endearing smile that actually made Zachary feel better

  “I have faith, too, my friend. I will do whatever I have to do not to lose her. I’m not above begging and groveling if I have to,” he said with a soft chuckle.

  They both spied Kenzie as she stood on the other side of the room. One of the dancers had grabbed her by the hand, trying to entice her to join in one of their burlesque numbers. She was laughing, joy having returned to her eyes as the other women cajoled her into joining in. Watching her attempting the choreography they were trying to teach her made both men laugh. Seeing her happy again made Zachary’s heart sing. But knowing that he was just hours away from breaking her heart had his nerves on edge, his stomach doing major backflips.

  Zachary tossed back the last of the bourbon he’d ordered and stood up. Barbie gave him a thumbs-up and waved him away as he headed across the room to reclaim his woman. He stepped between the throng of partiers, moving his body against Kenzie’s. Her smile widened as she wrapped her arms around his neck and drew him to
her. A slow, seductive love song was playing in the background. They moved instinctively together, their bodies moving as if they were a singular unit. And in that moment they were, the love between them in perfect sync. It was so immense that it filled the room. They were beautiful together, and all eyes were on them as they danced the rest of the night away.

  Chapter Twelve

  Kenzie had fallen asleep minutes after dropping into the bed, and she’d been resting well ever since. Zachary had tossed and turned, unable to get comfortable, not even when he wrapped his body around hers, cradling her in his arms. He’d been watching her for over an hour, memorizing the slow and steady inhale of her breath and the gentle exhalation that blew like a whisper past her lips.

  Everything about Kenzie warmed his spirit. She moved him to new heights, and there wasn’t anything he wouldn’t have done for her. And now he had to burst her happy bubble and pick up the pieces when it all went left. He was single-handedly going to cause her a wealth of hurt, and there was absolutely nothing he could do to keep her from it.

  He shook his head, pulling his legs over the arm rail of the chair he sat in. They needed to talk, and it was a conversation he didn’t look forward to. But he’d promised her, and himself, that he was going to be honest with her, sharing every dirty secret he’d ever had in his lifetime. The truth about her father was going to devastate Kenzie, because it had devastated him, and it continued to do so with each day the disease progressed.

  Zachary was a holy mess each time he came to Krabi Town, and he came regularly. He’d been coming ever since his best friend and mentor had been diagnosed. He’d been coming since Kai had purchased the property down the road and had hired a team of medical professionals to help him navigate the inevitability of his disease. Kai had a loyal and devoted team of nurses and doctors and other health-care professionals monitoring him daily. There was the live-in nurse, the visiting nurses, and physical therapists, all engaged to make his days as comfortable as possible.

  Zachary had purchased this home to be close to his friend, but not so close that either felt they were intruding on the other’s privacy. With both lots substantial in size, there was significant space and an acre or two of lush tropical gardens between them. When Kai had no longer been able to handle his day-to-day responsibilities, Zachary had stepped in to take over, fulfilling the promises that his friend had asked of him. Promising to never let Kai’s daughter see him as he deteriorated had been the biggest mistake Zachary had ever made, and now he was going to have to pay the price for having done so.

  He blew another sigh. As he did, Kenzie rolled onto her back, both arms thrown over her head. She snored softly, and he found the lull of it comforting. In that moment, he knew that he would watch her until the sun rose, a new day welcoming them together. He would watch her, and then he would tell her Kai Tamura’s story, praying that when it was all said and done, there’d be more nights that he could just sit and watch her.

  * * *

  The morning sunshine had just begun to stream through the windows when Kenzie opened her eyes. Zachary was sitting in the recliner when she sat upright, rubbing at her eyes with both fists. He was amused at how she had reached for him in the bed, her face skewing in frustration when he wasn’t there.

  “Good morning,” he said, his tone soft.

  “Good morning.” She stretched her arms over her head as she yawned. “Why are you over there?” she asked.

  He smiled. “I was watching you. Did you know that you talk in your sleep?”

  “Do I really?”

  He nodded. “Yes. You were fussing at someone!” he laughed.

  Kenzie laughed with him. She tapped her palm against the mattress. “Come snuggle me,” she said as she tossed back the covers.

  Zachary stood, then crawled into the bed beside her. He pulled her into his arms, wrapping himself around her. Her body was soft and warm, her bare skin teasing his. Neither spoke; no words were needed as they settled into each other. He drifted off into his thoughts, and she drifted off into her own.

  Outside it had begun to rain, the cloud cover spoiling the earlier hint of sunshine. Zachary had left the glass doors open to let the fresh air blow through the mesh screens. The gentle drip of rain hitting the ground resounded through the air.

  “What’s wrong? Kenzie suddenly asked.

  Zachary had tensed, and a tear had rolled over his chiseled cheeks. There was no missing that something wasn’t right, and his show of emotion caused her to tense with worry. He hugged her tightly and kissed her cheek as she swiped away his tear with the pad of her thumb.

  “Did something happen, Zachary?”

  “I was just thinking that I didn’t want to lose you, Kenzie. Ever! It would kill me.”

  “I don’t want to lose you either. I like what we have together, and I’m excited to see where we go from here. I’m not planning on going anywhere.”

  Zachary nodded. “I have a friend,” he started. “He’s ill. Terminally ill, and knowing that he doesn’t have much time left breaks my heart.”

  “Baby, I’m so sorry!” Kenzie exclaimed. She shifted so that she was holding him in her arms, their positions reversed. She pulled his head to her chest. “Do I know this friend?”

  He shook his head, spilling another little white lie. “You’ve never spent any time together,” he said, the only truth he could get out in the moment.

  She nodded. “What’s wrong with him?”

  “He was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s. It’s been aggressive and has affected him at an alarming rate. Just a few months ago, he still remembered who I was, and now I’m a stranger to him.”

  “I’ve never known anyone with Alzheimer’s, but I know it’s particularly difficult for the caregivers and family.”

  “We all saw the signs early. There were a lot of memory problems. Small things at first, and then they began to affect his daily life. He had trouble making plans and sticking to them. He couldn’t concentrate on detailed tasks, and where he’d always been meticulous with numbers, he suddenly couldn’t keep track of his bills or balance his checkbook!” Zachary took a deep breath before continuing.

  “He used to come to the gym every day, and then he started having trouble making the drive. Everyone made jokes about it at first, but I knew something was wrong. He couldn’t judge distance anymore or tell colors apart, and reading became problematic. Things we take for granted were suddenly big challenges.

  “Now he has trouble with his vocabulary. I can’t tell you the last time we actually had a full conversation that made any sense.”

  “I am so sorry,” Kenzie said a second time. “I can only imagine how hard this is on you.”

  Zachary nodded. “I need to go see him this morning, and I’m not ready.”

  “Well, you know I’ll go with you. You don’t have to go alone.”

  Zachary sat upright. “I want you to go, Kenzie. In fact, it’s important that you do, but I don’t want you to be frightened. He can be aggressive, especially if he’s not remembering who people are.”

  “I’m sure I’ll be fine.”

  He took another deep breath. “There’s something else you need to know about my friend, baby.”

  His tone suddenly scared her. A wave of anxiety pierced her midsection. “What is it?”

  “My friend . . . ,” Zachary hesitated briefly, then he just spat it out. “Kenzie, my friend is your father. He’s Kai Tamura.”

  * * *

  Explaining everything that had gotten them to that point seemed to go on forever. Kenzie had questions, and she didn’t want to wait for answers. Tears streamed down her face, her emotions wafting from sadness to frustration to anger and back again.

  Zachary sighed heavily. “Get dressed, baby. We can grab some breakfast, and then I’ll take you over to see him.”

  Kenzie snapped. “Don’t call me baby! And I can’t eat. I need to see my father.”

  Zachary nodded. “That’s fine. Just get dressed, and I’ll
take you there.”

  Kenzie didn’t bother to shower. She rinsed her mouth, swiped a soapy washcloth over her face, pulled her hair into a high topknot, and threw on a pair of shorts and a T-shirt.

  In the kitchen, Barbie eyed them both anxiously.

  “Did you know, too?” she asked, speaking sharply.

  Barbie nodded. “He swore us to secrecy and made us promise not to betray his trust. We did what he wanted us to do.”

  “Did either of you ever think about me? Or how this might affect my life?”

  “To be honest,” Barbie said, “I didn’t know he had a daughter until after he became sick and made us swear.”

  Kenzie turned to stare at Zachary, her stare questioning.

  He answered. “I knew, but from what he told me, your mother didn’t want to have anything to do with him, and once you were old enough to decide for yourself you weren’t interested either. He never expected you two to reconcile, so neither did I.”

  “I never had a chance,” she suddenly shouted. “You took my chance away!”

  The two men cut their eyes at each other. Neither bothered to respond. Both knew she was angry and hurt, and she needed someone to blame. Zachary was the most convenient option.

  She stomped toward the door, her arms crossed tightly over her chest. “Please, take me to see my father.”

  * * *

  Kenzie couldn’t believe that Kai Tamura literally lived next door to Zachary, their backyards bordering each other. The walk took no time at all before they were standing at her father’s front door.

  The woman who answered the door greeted them both in English. She was middle-aged, blonde, and blue-eyed. She wore a simple shift dress and flats. She greeted them warmly and both by name.

  “Mr. Barrett, Miss Monroe, good morning.”

  “Good morning, Angelika,” Zachary responded. “How is he this morning?”

  “It looks like it might be a good day. He’s in good spirits. We haven’t had any outbursts. I was just about to feed him his morning meal.”

  The woman named Angelika gave Kenzie a smile, but she didn’t say anything to her, just gesturing for them both to follow behind her.