Mei smiled as she ate and took time to feed Uriel between bites. She listened in on the men’s conversation. Though pleased to see they were getting along so well, she suddenly found herself missing her best friend, Cora, from back home.
"So, how is married life?" Calvin asked both Mei and Max.
"Great!" They answered in unison and laughed at themselves.
"We have our disagreements, but we are learning to compromise," Mei said.
"Yeah, everything goes her way. That’s a compromise," Max joked.
"Oh, whatever." Mei laughed.
Everyone was laughing when Karen came back with two trays of food. She placed them down on the table, still visibly upset with Calvin.
"Hey, Karen, are you okay?" Mei asked.
"Yeah, just... it's a long line." She said not wanting to say what was really on her mind.
"Tell me about it." Max grumbled as he prepared Uriel's bottle.
"Calvin was telling us that his family is from Aruba," Mei said trying to change her mood.
"Oh yeah, Aruba.... It's beautiful over there and the people are all friendly. I love going to visit his family." Karen fed her daughter as she spoke.
"Sounds nice," Mei said.
"Here you go, babe," Max said handing Mei the baby bottle.
Mei glanced at her husband as she took the bottle and noticed how tired he looked. "Babe, after you finish eating, why don't you go take a nap? I'm rested. I’ll take Uriel with me. Just go and sleep. You look pretty bad." She softly placed her hand on his cheek.
"Yeah, I guess I feel pretty bad, too." Max caressed her thigh with a soothing motion.
"How is that bite on your leg?"
"It's fine," Mei said pulling away as she nudged the bottle’s nipple into Uriel's mouth.
The boy settled back into her arms and gripped the bottle with his tiny hands as his eyes stared adoringly at her.
Max repositioned himself to look at her wound.
"Mei!" Max growled.
She knew what he was going to say. The bite was not fine. An infection had already begun. Mei knew she needed to go to the campus clinic, but she’d been so tired when she’d reached her dorm room. The trek through the forest had exhausted her more than she had thought. Her intention to shower, change and go to the clinic had quickly been set aside when she’d looked at her inviting bed. She’d decided to sleep for a few minutes. The few minutes, however, stretched into a few hours.
"Oh, my gosh. You got bit?" Karen said.
"Yeah, by a snake," Mei answered. She grimaced as Max fingered the tender and swollen skin around the puncture wounds.
"That's serious," Calvin said
"It's non-venomous," Mei said.
Max glared at her only a moment before getting to his feet and gathering the plastic plates, utensils and napkins. He quickly shoved everything onto a tray and turned to find the nearest trashcan.
"Sorry guys, we have to go to the clinic,” he said with forced politeness. My wife seems to need a shot.” He turned his angry eyes to Mei. “Before the infection worsens." He grabbed the baby bag and carefully took Uriel out of her arms, keeping the bottle securely in place. Saying nothing, he turned to leave.
"My husband tends to be a little overprotective at times. I apologize for his..."
“Mei!” Max called with impatience.
Mei shrugged and patted Karen’s shoulder. "It was nice meeting you and your family. I will see you back at the dorm."
"Sure."
"Take care," Calvin said
"I'll see you around," Max called out to Calvin. He shifted the boy’s weight and waved at the young family.
Still sucking on his bottle, Uriel offered his own small and awkward wave. He was otherwise unperturbed by the goings-on.
Max hurried out of the cafeteria with Mei at his heels. They’d not even crossed the campus when Uriel drifted off to sleep in his father’s arms. Mei pulled the bottle from his limp hands and shoved it into the baby bag. Words of apology and reassurance played on her tongue, but her lips were unable to allow the words to come out. She knew it would serve no purpose.
They made it to the clinic and Mei was relieved to see that the waiting room was empty. Mei was able to see a doctor right away.
“Looks nasty, but it’s not life threatening,” the doctor said. She worked with efficient hands, cleaning the wound and setting a bandage. “Good thing you came in when you did, though. You don’t want to let a little thing like this build up into something that could really do harm.”
Mei glanced at Max and saw the relief she felt reflected in his eyes.
“You’ll need some antibiotics.” She pulled a notepad and pen from her pocket and scribbled a few illegible words before tearing it off and handing it to Mei.”
“Thanks.” Mei took the prescription and shoved it into her pocket.
They walked out and headed to a campus park where they took a seat on a bench. Uriel awoke the moment they sat, and took to chasing his imaginary friends around the nearby tree.
"How do you feel?" Max asked.
"Good," Mei replied.
"I'm sorry I was so rough with you," Max said, looking at her apologetic
"Don't be. I know you love me. The truth is you were right. I shouldn’t have put off tending to it. You never know how things will turn out these days. It could have become a bad infection if I hadn't gone today."
Max pulled her close and kissed her. "It's going to be real hard sleeping alone tonight."
She nodded and allowed his tender embrace to sooth her. "Max, we did call Dad to let him know we got here safe, didn’t we?" Mei said suddenly remembering the promise to call.
"I'll call him later. Stop ruining my moment," Max said with a teasing nibble to her neck.
Mei giggled and quickly glanced around for Uriel. In a heartbeat she was on her feet. “Uriel!” Her eyes wide with fear, she circled the tree he’d been running around. “Uriel! Where are you, baby?”
Max jumped up to join her, his own shouts of his son’s name drowning hers. They looked at each other, gesturing to look in opposite directions for him. Mei ran right as Max ran left.
Mei looked through the bushes and behind the hedges murmuring to herself, "He couldn't have gotten far. He couldn’t possibly be far." A few seconds later, she heard Max calling her name. Her heart pounding and tears already working their way to her eyes, she ran in the direction of his voice.
“Uriel.” She wanted to laugh through the tears that spilled over her cheeks as she came upon Max standing over the grinning little boy. She ran to her son who was sitting in a mound of dirt, contentedly playing and completely oblivious to his parents’ frantic search.
"He’s covered in dirt," Max said, picking him up and hugging him.
"And he’s never been more beautiful,” Mei said through her tears. “Thank you, Jesus. He is all right."
She wrapped her arms around her husband and son, relief momentarily overwhelming her before the guilt set it. How could they have let him disappear like that? She kissed her son’s head and promised to keep a closer watch on him. "Max, let me clean him up and put him to sleep. Go back to your dorm and get some rest."
"Yeah, I think I’ll do just that. I'm so tired I can barely see straight." Max yawned and handed over Uriel.
She kissed Max goodnight and watched him walk to his dorm before turning to find her own way. While Mei walked, she mumbled sweet baby words to her son. Caught up in the joy of his smile, she didn’t notice Samuel Peters’ approach.
"Do you need some help?" Samuel asked.
Mei stopped at the sight of him. "No, thank you," she said, resuming her stride.
"Remember me? I’m Samuel Peters, I’m a sophomore here." He extended his hand.
Mei ignored his outstretched hand and kept on walking as if she hadn’t heard him. The guy gave her the creeps and she wanted nothing to do with him. She could read him and his intentions a mile away. He was obviously unfazed by the fact that she was married, an
d seemed conceited enough to actually believe she’d leave her husband for him.
She turned the corner that led to her dorm room. When Samuel jumped in front of her, stopping her from going any farther, Mei rolled her eyes and readjusted her baby bag and Uriel.
"What do you want?” Mei growled.
"You." His gaze was as bold as his statement.
"Look, you seem like a very nice guy,” she lied. “But I'm happily married and, as you can see, my husband and I have a child. I’m sure there are hundreds of single, childless women on this campus, so go bother them." Mei stepped around him and continued to walk to the stairs.
"You’re too young to even know if you’re with the right person," Samuel shouted.
Mei didn't even waste her time giving him a response. She knew in her heart that God had brought Max to her. Suddenly she heard a voice tell her. "Remember people will try to separate you two."
She walked into her dorm room and locked the door behind her.
Samuel Peters stood nearby and took note of the room Mei had entered. Accustomed to getting what he wanted, he was not about to give up on her. Whether it be a new addition to his collection of antique cars, comic cards, coins, rare out of print books or exotic women, when Samuel Peters set his mind to something, he damn well was sure to get it. He hadn’t spent an hour watching her and her husband walk around campus for nothing.
Little girl, he thought with a dry grin, if you want to play prey, then I will be delighted to play hunter. The harem he had back home bored him and he was suddenly hungry for some new blood.
"Excuse me, young man, but you are not allowed in the female dorm area. Please leave immediately." The large, sturdy woman approached him with a look of disdain on her pudgy face.
"My apologies," Samuel mumbled as he took one last glance at the room Mei had entered.
"You will be mine," he whispered before turning and walking away.
Home
Holding a small roll of bandage in one hand and a pair of scissors in the other, Coretta Small Li entered her niece’s small room and closed the door. Tia Small lay motionless in her bed, her body beaten and torn apart. Bruises covered almost every inch of her skin, and her left leg and right arm were broken. Coretta leaned heavily into the door and once again thanked God the doctors had successfully stopped her internal bleeding. She also prayed to God to release Tia from the near catatonic state she continued to be in. Coretta longed to hear the sound of her niece’s voice as well as the explanation to what had happened to her.
“I love you like you were my own daughter,” Coretta whispered through tears of fatigue and worry. And since her own daughter, Makayla, had moved away, Coretta had even more love to shower on the girl she’d raised since age six. Looking at her now, bruised and unconscious, she thought back to the day Tia’s mother had died in a car accident. Though she’d initially been angry at the child’s father for taking to drinking instead of taking care of his little girl, she would forever be grateful to have been given the gift Tia had turned out to be.
Forcing a pleasant smile, Coretta tried to bring a happy note to her voice. "Okay, honey, it's time to change those bandages." She approached the bed and sat on the edge of the mattress. "You know, your cousin is on her way home and she’s very worried about you."
Coretta began removing the bandages from Tia's right leg. "She is bringing Tamarius with her. I think, he just may be the one for her. I like him. Nothing but good vibes come from him, unlike that last one."
A faint sound escape Tia's lips and Coretta froze. "T, did you say something?" She watched for any movement. Nothing happened.
The only difference was that Tia now seemed upset. Her eyes were squeezed closed and her lips moved, though no sound came out. Coretta reached for Tia’s hand. “Tia? Can you hear me, honey? You’re going to be all right. You’re getting stronger every day and the doctors have nothing but good news. Tia?”
A tap at the door interrupted her words of encouragement.
"It's open," Coretta called out, not taking her eyes off of Tia.
"She alright?" Fa asked, walking in the room.
"I don't know. Look how her face twisted up so," Coretta replied, her West Indian accent becoming stronger with her emotions. She glanced at her husband.
"If only we could get her to drink the tea," Fa said. "Don't worry, eh, babes. She gon' be all right." He hugged his wife and kissed her cheek. "Kay called. They are getting ready to land. Be back soon, love. Hold tight."
"Well, what else could I do?" Coretta said smiling at her husband.
"It will be all right, babe." He stepped out and closed the door.
***
Tamarius and Makayla walked out of the airport. Though getting through customs had been relatively quick and efficient, they were exhausted and starved. Normally they would have headed to a resort, however, Fa had insisted on picking them up from the airport. Makayla could not convince her father otherwise.
"There he is," Makayla said, pointing to her father's light blue car.
Fa slowed down as he spotted his daughter and pulled over to the curb. He threw the car in park and got out to hug her. “I’m so happy to see you, Kay.” He kissed her cheek and turned to shake Tamarius' hand.
They quickly jumped into the car.
The trip and skipped meals left Makayla feeling nauseated. Leaving Tamarius to sit up the front and hold Fa in conversation, she stretched out on the back seat. When her father brusquely pulled away from the curb, she resisted the urge to ask him to take it easy. It seemed every turn, stop and go left her on the verge of vomiting.
"So how is Tia?" Tamarius asked.
"She’s all right, I guess, but still hasn't said a word other then that name." Fa Lips were set in a grim line. "You guys must be hungry after your long trip. Coretta has cooked a good meal for everyone."
"Can't wait." Tamarius replied. “With the trip so last minute, we had no food on the plane.”
"Kay, ya ready to eat?"
"Yes, Dad," Makayla mumbled.
It took them thirty-five minutes to get home, just in time for Makayla to step out of the car and vomit. Tamarius ran to her side, holding her up. Fa hurried inside. Makayla leaned forward as Tamarius patted her back.
Thoughts of her possibly being pregnant entered his mind again. This time he would not say anything to upset her.
"Better?" he questioned.
"Yeah," Makayla said in a hoarse whisper.
Fa returned with a bundle of paper towels and a glass of water. Coretta was close behind, her brow creased with lines of concern. She ran to her daughter’s side and pulled her hair back and felt her forehead.
Fa handed Makayla a paper towel and the glass of water. Makayla rinsed her mouth out and straightened up, taking a deep breath. She smiled at her mother, "Hi, Mom," she said as she wrapped her arms around her mother’s small frame.
Coretta laughed as her hand ran the length of Makayla’s hair. "What a greeting." She turned to hug Tamarius then led the way inside.
"How have you been? How are Mei and Max?"
"They are away at college, right now," Tamarius answered.
"College? What about the baby?" Coretta asked.
"The whole family went to college." Anxious to settle Makayla, Tamarius hugged her and forced a smile.
"Wow. That sounds like fun." Coretta smirked and arch a sarcastic brow.
Tamarius could feel Makayla growing weaker by the minute as she leaned into him more and more "Hon, maybe you should lay down for a little."
"Yeah," Makayla grunted.
He nuzzled up to her ear and whispered, "Ready?" Before Makayla could reply he swiped her off her feet.
"Follow me," Coretta led them to Makayla's old room.
Tamarius let out a spontaneous chuckle as he entered the pink and very girly realm of Maykayla’s childhood.
"Aw, Mom,” Makayla whined. “You guys never cleaned this junk out." With a long and loud groan, she hid her face with her hands as Tamarius l
aid her on the twin sized bed.
"You are our only daughter." Coretta smiled lovingly at the girl. "I can't take this down."
"Ma," Makayla groaned.
Tamarius snickered, which garnered him a quickly tossed pillow from Makayla.
"Sorry, sorry... I gotta go outside... Princess," Tamarius said through snorts and chuckles.
Makayla couldn't help but laugh as well. It was crazy. She looked around her old room and wondered how she’d ever slept in such an array of frills and lace.
Coretta came to her daughter’s side. "Oh, I've missed you so much. Let me get you some tea. When was the last time you ate?"
"Late last night. After we heard the news about Tia we cancelled out dinner. We rushed back to the hotel and packed." Makayla sat up. "I need my toothbrush." She cupped her hand before her mouth and exhaled to assess her breath.
"So how are you and Mr. Right doing?" Coretta asked.
Makayla felt the heat of an intense blush rise to her cheeks. "Well, things are good so far. He's a really good person. Puts God first and he has his head on right."
"Would you marry him?" Coretta bubbled with excitement.
"Ma, I don't know. I'm scared. What if he changes like my ex. I don’t think I could deal with that again."
"Sweetie, don't punish him for another man's mistakes."
"I know.” For a long moment she stared at the beautiful ring on her mother’s finger. “Why couldn't I have gotten it right like you and Dad?"
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