Second Chance: A Christian Romance (Royals Book 2)

by Nicole Taylor

  “It’s my homemade passion fruit juice that you both like so much,” Jean said.

  Robert nodded. “Jean, you know all the right words. Passion fruit juice is just what Dana and I need right now.”

  Jean’s cackle instantly sent him back. He remembered that laugh; that rich, full-bodied sound. An image appeared before him. It was Dana and him one night out on the beach trying to toast marshmallows on a stick, and Jean had come outside to bring them something…what was it? Robert wrinkled his brow as he tried valiantly to remember. What had it been? It had been hot, wet towels to wipe their hands. Yes, because their hands had been all sticky. And he had turned to her and said, “I don’t need hot towels, Jean. My wife just told me she has a headache. What I need is a cold shower.”

  He took a sip of the juice and had to close his eyes as another memory, a more intimate memory of Dana and himself, almost winded him.

  “Let me show you our room,” Dana said, oblivious to his state.

  When they reached the bedroom, he placed the glass on a nearby table and reached for Dana. He walked over to sit on the bed and pulled her into his lap.

  “I just had a memory. Tell me if I remember this correctly.” He related the story.

  She watched him in wonder then replied, “Almost. I didn’t tell you I had a headache, I told you I was exhausted and would go straight to bed when we got inside, and you made that crude remark to Jean.”

  She playfully swatted his arm. “You had little conduct.”

  “Are you implying I have conduct now?”

  “Somewhat. I’m monitoring it, though,” she said.

  He started to stroke her hair. “Sei bella. Have I told you that before?”

  A corner of Dana’s mouth lifted. “You may have mentioned it once or twice.”

  “How did I manage to get a woman like you to agree to marry me?” he asked as he began to untangle the long braid.

  She closed her eyes and sighed.

  “Oh it wasn’t hard at all,” she said dreamily.

  He eventually got it all undone and enjoyed the feel of the silken strands through his fingers.

  “That, I don’t believe. Knowing you, I bet you made me work hard for it.”

  Robert ran his hand down one tanned arm. Dana moaned softly.

  “Not too hard. I didn’t want you to get discouraged and move on after all,” she said.

  He began dropping small kisses along her neck as she arched her body in excitement.

  His mouth left her neck to make its way up her jaw and then the corner of her mouth. She turned her face so that her lips grazed his. He felt his blood heat as she shifted her body and pressed it into his. He reached behind her to unzip her dress.

  Suddenly a pain like a machete had struck him lanced through the top of Robert’s head. He cried out and jerked forward, nearly dropping his wife. She regained her footing quickly and stooped over him in concern as he held his head in his hands. The pain was dizzying, almost blinding.

  “Bobby! Bobby, are you okay?” he heard Dana cry out in alarm as he felt her hands cover his. “Honey, speak to me.”

  He wanted to speak, wanted to reassure her. But all he felt at that moment was nausea.

  He knew he was going to be sick. Despite the pain, Robert stumbled to the bathroom and promptly threw up in the sink.

  ~*~*~*~

  Dana sat outside on the wide stone terrace.

  Like the rest of the villa, the décor was elegant and inviting with its warm ivory and deep chocolate colors bordered by tropical vegetation in the form of shrubs and trees. Right then, though, Dana hardly noticed the ambiance. She was in deep conversation with her friend, Heather.

  “It’s our first day here and just when I decide to get intimate with Robert he has a migraine,” she said.

  “How often has he had those since the accident?”

  “He’s had headaches but nothing like this. Can you believe it? I thought he was recovering so well and now this. Oh, Heather, sometimes I feel like screaming.”

  “Keep the faith, honey. Don’t get discouraged. God never promised us that life would be easy. He did promise he’d walk beside us, carry us if necessary, during difficult times. Trust him. He is trustworthy. Remember, all things work together for good for those who love God and are called according to his purpose.”

  “I try to remember that. Sometimes it can be so hard.”

  “I know, but God will see you through this. And look at the positives. Robert has improved so well. Don’t look at this as a setback. You’ve got to remember that while he may look fine, he’s still recovering from brain surgery. It’s only been six weeks, Dana, don’t forget that. Besides, it has been awhile since you two made love, from what you told me. He may be subconsciously worried about disappointing you. The subconscious can do weird things to us. Maybe you need to take it easy with him.”

  Dana nodded as she watched the sun set. This had been Robert’s and her favorite time of the day. How they had loved to look at the sunset on the tropical island on evenings as they sat poolside sipping cocktails. Now she had to enjoy it alone. But maybe they could enjoy it together the next night.

  Heather might be on to something. She had to take it easy with Robert. While he seemed as though he was perfectly back to normal, he really wasn’t. She had to restrain her own physical desire for him and do what was in his best interest. That meant they needed to take things slow and easy.

  ~*~*~*~

  Robert’s long legs were propped on the railing as he absently cleaned his nails with a Swiss army knife. He completed the task and closed the knife. From his position on the balcony of the upstairs sitting room, he pensively gazed out across the well-manicured grounds, past the large coconut trees swaying in the wind, to the aquamarine ocean. The view was breathtaking, but it did little to improve his mood.

  It was the day following his ‘episode’. He felt physically better now. Certainly he was very well rested after wasting a whole day in bed, but his emotional state was another matter.

  He had been so sure that he was recovering well. In fact, he had considered himself a miracle. Yet, the moment he was about to get physical with his wife his head had threatened to split in two.

  And the fact that Dana was now treating him like something was wrong with him didn’t help. He had tried to resume where they had left off after he had gotten over the migraine. She had twisted away from him with the excuse that he had to take it easy. Then that night when they were in bed, she had told him she was tired and turned her back to him.

  He had never felt so emasculated in his life. He had been so sure that they could finally be man and wife in every way once he had told her he loved her. And then the headache blind-sided him. He was no longer a desirable man to his wife, instead, in her eyes, he was a patient. He had almost expected her to ask, ‘How’s the invalid today?’ that morning when she had greeted him.

  “Oh, there you are. I was looking for you,” a voice said behind him.

  He turned his head. Dana stood there with another woman. He took down his feet and rose in the presence of the ladies, as his father had taught him to do.

  “Bobby, this is Frances Nurse, she is an interior designer. She’s the one who decorated the villa. She also happens to be my…”

  Dana paused and closed her eyes. The way she twisted her face suggested she was doing some kind of mental gymnastics.

  “…my grandfather’s sister’s grand-daughter, which makes her my second cousin.”

  Robert stuck out a hand, but the woman, who looked to him to be in her early forties, ignored it, wrapped him in a tight embrace, and kissed his cheek.

  “We don’t greet each other so,” she said. “And don’t mind your wife. She always with that second cousin nonsense. I tell her already that we’re cousins. That’s all there is to it.”

  Dana laughed. “Just being specific, Fran, for Bobby’s benefit. I told Fran that your accident caused some memory loss and that you might not remember her,” she ex
plained.

  Frances searched his face. “How you doing, Bobby? We send up a lot of prayers for you. I just want you to know that.”

  Robert was momentarily stunned by her directness but he recovered quickly. “I am doing a lot better, Frances, thank you.”

  “Fran. Call me Fran. I can’t believe you don’t remember me, though. We used to have some good laughs. Anyway, I prayed for you and I know that God will restore those memories. In fact, I know that one taste of my fishcakes will bring everything back to you. You’ll see,” she said with a grin.

  Robert couldn’t help the laugh that burst from his lips. He glanced at Dana and saw amusement reflected on her face as she indulgently watched her cousin.

  Robert turned his eyes back to the brown-skinned woman. She was quite attractive, with her explosion of thick, tight black curls, sparkling, wide-set, light brown eyes, and full lips. She bore little resemblance to Dana, though. No, that wasn’t quite true. They both had proud, fierce eyes.

  He smiled at Frances. “So you’re the decorator, huh? Well, you did a great job. This place looks awesome. Makes me feel like I don’t want to go back home to the United States.”

  Frances laughed again.

  “I’d like to take credit for that but I really can’t. I think it’s the amazing view from this villa and the island itself. I’ve lived here all my life so I take it for granted, but visitors are always telling me that what keeps them coming back year after year is the beauty of the island and the friendliness of the people.”

  He nodded. “I can’t argue with that, Fran. All the people I’ve met so far have been very friendly,” he replied honestly.

  Frances smiled. “I want to invite you and Dana over for a little get together at my house tonight. My children are big fans. Don’t talk about my husband. My goodness, he only met you once but the way he talks you’d think you two were best friends.” She rolled her eyes.

  Robert laughed. “I’d love the opportunity to meet Dana’s family. Or reacquaint myself I should say. Thank you so much for your invitation.”

  Frances nodded. “Good,” she said. “Well, I won’t disturb you any longer. Even though Dana told me you were a lot better, I wanted to see for myself. So now I feel good. You did the best thing coming down here for a vacation. This sea air will do you a world of good. Help you to recuperate faster. Best medicine in the world. Dana make sure de man get some good sea baths, hear?” she warned with one finger wagging and one hand on one shapely hip.

  Dana laughed and shook her head. “You think we came all the way to Barbados and will not make the time to go in the ocean. Not a chance.”

  “Just checking,” Frances said. “Now come let’s see the changes you want and leave the man to enjoy his view.” They left him with the sound of laughter ringing in the air.

  As Robert resumed his seat he realized he now felt so much better. Something about the warmth of the exchange with Frances made him feel relaxed, happy and hopeful. No wonder he and Dana had come to the island every year if this was the kind of reception they received.

  Dana returned half an hour later. Suddenly, Robert wanted to see more of Barbados, he didn’t want to be holed up in the villa any longer. He was looking forward to this ‘get together’.

  “What’s a ‘get together’” he asked.

  “Oh. That’s an informal party with a few friends and relatives. You sure you’re up to it, though? That it’s not too much excitement for you?”

  Robert sighed. Here we go again. Why didn’t she just put him to bed, stick a thermometer under his tongue and be done with it. He bit back his response and reached for the calmness Frances had inspired. He found it and answered patiently, “No. I’m feeling quite well. No migraine lurking in the wings.” She looked skeptical. Time to change the subject.

  “Frances is quite a character, I like her,” he said lightly.

  “You’ve always liked her. She likes to say that her spirit and yours met from the time she set eyes on you.”

  “Listen, I’m going to take Frances’ advice. Have a swim in the ocean. Maybe you can join me.”

  Dana nodded. “Okay.”

  Chapter 21

  An hour and a half later Robert and Dana reclined on the beach in front of their property. She felt tired, but in a good way after swimming and frolicking in the sea with Robert for over an hour. He seemed so much better too. So relaxed. She sensed though that he was a little annoyed with her. He was doing a great job of masking it but she had known him too long not to pick up on certain cues. She knew it had to do with her keeping her distance but she was just trying to play it safe. Maybe in another day or two they could pick up where they left off and take it slowly this time.

  “So. I’m sure you’ve told me before but tell me again about your grandfather, and how this black man from Barbados wound up becoming the grandfather of a white girl from Brooklyn,” Robert asked

  “I’m white? Don’t say that too loudly. If you Google ‘list of famous black people who successfully pass for white’ you’ll see my name. I’ve taken so much heat for ‘picking my white side’ to make it in Hollywood it’s ridiculous. Barbara went through the same thing so I guess it’s par for the course.”

  “Picking your white side? What does that mean?”

  “It means that the characters we have played have been white. It’s hard to play a black character if you don’t look black. The fact is that we do look white, even though we’re mixed. Ronnie is the only one who tends to look more like our dad, and he looked more Jewish than black. But even then I guess one could say she could pass for white as well.”

  “How do you feel about that label?”

  “‘Passing for white?’ I’ve never allowed it to define me. Let’s put it that way. Honestly, my biggest issue was the fascination people seemed to have with my looks. Not so much my race. It may have been an issue for one or two people in the business who said, ‘she’s actually black’ like it was some kind of revelation. I’ve never made a secret of my heritage. I don’t go around declaring that I’m either black or white. As far as I’m concerned I’m both.”

  Robert nodded, impressed. “So tell me the story of…Lennox Dickson, was it?”

  “Yes. Well, from what I learned, Lennox was the son of a mason and grew up in the parish of Christ Church. At eighteen years old he left home and joined a steamer and worked as a seaman. One of the places they visited was New York where he met and fell in love with my grandmother, Dana.”

  “Wait. You were named after your grandmother?”

  “I was. Lennox and Dana wrote letters to each other over the course of the next seven years during which time he accumulated enough money to fly to New York and marry her. That’s where they settled. In Brooklyn, New York. They only had one child, my father, Ronald. He was in his sophomore year at Columbia when he met my mother, Erin. She was in her senior year at high school, working on evenings at a coffee shop near the University where my father frequented. That was where they met. She served him coffee and he chatted with her and they fell in love. They got married just after her high school graduation.”

  Robert nodded. “So how did you meet your Barbadian relatives?”

  “I didn’t know my grandfather had been from Barbados until I was in my twenties. He died when I was really young. Like six or something. Then of course my dad was killed two years later,” she said wistfully. Robert reached over and took her hand. She smiled gratefully at him.

  “Anyway. I had always wanted to visit Barbados after my mother told me. So I decided to come for our honeymoon. We fell in love with the island and it became our ritual to come for our anniversary. Then, about four years after we got married, I hired an investigator to track down my grandfather’s relatives. That was how I found out about Fran and the others.”

  “How many are there?”

  “Lots. My grandfather had about seven siblings. He was the youngest so all of them are dead except my great aunt, Pearl, who is ninety-seven. Her daughter is Fran’
s mother. Some of our cousins migrated to other countries, like England, Canada and the US. I see the ones who live here from time to time.”

  Later that evening, Robert and Dana took a taxi over to Frances’ house. It was located in the Parish of St. George, one of the only two parishes which had no beach, Robert had been told. The area was called Rolling Hills, and Robert could see why. The long tree-lined entrance into the development revealed a number of large, tastefully designed houses, built on hilly terrain.

  The moment they disembarked, they were greeted by Frances, a tall, handsome, dark-skinned man, who was introduced as Fran’s husband, Gregory, three young boys of varying ages and two dogs.

  Amidst laughter and hugs and loud barking, they made their way into the large house.

  Robert soon discovered a heavy-set woman in her mid-sixties waiting for them at the door. She had a round, pleasant face, rosy cheeks, and short well-coiffed, straight black hair. She smiled warmly at him and grasped his hand.

  “Robert, this is my mother, Annette. And this is my sister, Lorraine.” Robert turned to greet the other woman and found himself staring in the face of an even prettier, lighter-skinned version of Frances. She looked to be about Dana’s age, and was outfitted in a pair of form fitting black pants and crop top that emphasized every curve of her slender form. She tossed back long black hair over one shoulder and smiled seductively at him as she slid her hand into his.

  He shook her hand quickly, but she seemed reluctant to let his go. He felt a nudge from behind. “Move along, Bobby. We’re all piled up near the door,” Dana said in annoyance.

  Robert smirked inwardly. Let her seethe. He wasn’t interested in this Lorraine but if fraternizing with her would get a rise out of his wife that might not be a bad thing.

  ~*~*~*~