by Blu, Cora
“Kenya...it's Morgan...your sister,” Morgan said softly. The sponge hit the shower floor. Subconsciously Kenya brought her arm down protectively over her baby and peered out over the bathroom out the door to the bedroom, nervously. “Kenya, are you there? Don't hang up...please...I need to talk to you, it may be my last chance.”
Shocked she grasped the glass door and peered around the bathroom expecting to see Brian's henchmen. “Ah...I won't hang up. Last chance—why? Morgan where are you? Everybody's worried Brian's locked you in a freezer somewhere. Talk to me!”
“I thought you'd be pissed and hang up on me.”
“No you didn't or you wouldn't of called. You know I'd never turn my back on family, regardless of how much you deserve it,” holding onto the door she squat down and picked up the sponge setting it on the shelf. “I can't change what happened and sharing your anger just puts my life on hold.”
“You're a better woman than I am, Kenya...you always were.”
“What's wrong, Morgan? Compliments aren't a part of your normal arsenal when speaking to me.” She grasped the sponge squeezing a glob of liquid soap then slapped at her body in a frantic bath then quickly rinsed under the showerhead.
Morgan said, hesitantly, “Too many things need to be said and I don't have time to go over everything and you have to get to the trial. First I think you deserve to know why I was such a cruel sister when you deserved better.”
“Morgan!”
Morgan groaned her voice a solemn plea of shame, “It was envy, not hate. You never knew our father, so him leaving didn't affect you the same. Marcus was the only father you knew and he always treated you like his little girl. Me and Michael...it took him a while to see us as his children and not his niece and nephew.” That was Michael's argument when he and Steve came to the castle. “We had to learn to see him as our father and not an uncle. You were his little buddy from the first day, Kenya. You were never an Erickson as me and Michael were. They adopted us and changed our last name per our father's request. That sucked.”
Kenya waited for some horrific explanation for the years of pain they caused. When it didn't come she balked. “It sucked...are you serious, that's all you got. That's your big reveal?” Kenya grabbed a towel wrapping it around her body tucking in the ends between her breasts. “You were pissed because he changed your name instead of throwing us in foster care?”
“I'm sorry, Kenya. I hurt you, we both did...”
“And when we grew up it got worse, but I dealt with it.” She dropped a shoulder to the wall bracing a hand under her stomach. “Alright, you wanna bring it all out, let's go. You suck, Morgan.” That was childish; she thought and took a moment to collect herself. This might be her last chance to speak her peace so it had to make sense and not just noise. “I needed you growing up.”
“Kenya we were kids and...”
“And it still didn't matter as long as I let you dump your pain and anger on me, didn't matter how much shit I had to carry for the rest of my life,” pacing the room she moved to the dresser and put her watch on. “Every night, crying in my sleep. Every day, standing in the picture window in the living room, hoping this was the day my brother and sister smiled at me when they came through the door from school.” She made a funky noise in her throat. “Did either one of you think of how much that took from my self-esteem, my pride?”
“Kenya, you have a right to have your anger and to have it toward me.”
Silence filled the air as she picked up her bra off the cushioned stool beside the vanity. Kenya tugged it up her arms hooking the clasps, then slipped on her panties, listening to Morgan's words. “I don't wanna be angry with you Morgan. You're my sister, my blood, my family.” She grabbed the bottle of hair lotion rubbing some through her hair then drew the brush through the length to smooth it back off her face. She set the brush down, pumping out a handful of cocoa butter lotion rubbing it over her stomach and as far down her legs as she could comfortably reach. “There's something we need to clear up between us, since we're talking. All my life I thought, I was afraid of you and your hate and anytime you questioned my decisions I changed it to please you. I'd left the best man I've ever met, not knowing how to trust in my gut feeling. Why would he believe me, I'm nobody? At least that's how you treated me. But not only did he believe me he supported me. Since then I've learned my fear was of disappointing Katherine and Marcus. Don't ever think I bite my tongue out of fear for you or Michael. If I had my way, I'd dig your eyes out with a rusty spoon for the way you made me feel, but we weren't raised that way. I accept you out of respect for the parents that took us in as their own and the mother that gave her life so I could have one.”
“You're right,” Morgan said in a weak voice. “I'm glad you have Jonathan, he's a good man and you're a beautiful woman and I'm glad he could see you under the pain.”
Kenya peered out the window to see if the sun had fallen out the sky, because she had to be in black hole spiraling to her death.
“I'm sorry we never had an adult relationship as friends, which was my fault.”
She couldn't have agreed more. “So am I. I feel I need to say this, because it bothers me every time I think about it. A girl learns to become a woman from the women in her life. If not for Katherine and Karla's influence, I'd have cracked your head open until you stopped moving a long time ago. That's the pain Jonathan had to deal with when he fell in love with me, but he stayed and wouldn't let me drown in all that hurt, Morgan.” Her breathing had picked up becoming stressed and uneven, but she felt better.
Morgan said hesitantly, “You still wanna hit me?”
With a chair across the back, but it wouldn't solve anything. “I wanna hug your evil ass, but I'd probably strangle you.” Kenya padded into her room hitting the button on the other phone and started getting dressed. “What's going on with you Morgan? Brian's old enough to be our father and weird enough to make my skin crawl.” She pulled a dress from the wardrobe.
“I need you to listen. I don't have a lot of time, so just listen. Brian found me here in Ireland and brought me back and has had me under surveillance ever since.” Kenya started to speak. “Listen, he’s got two of his men watching me, but one is willing to help me. I have information that'll put him in prison, that's why he was desperate to get me back.”
Kenya froze. “He'll be able to trace your call; you gotta get out of there, Morgan. Where are you? I'll get...”
Morgan cuts in, “Kenya listens to me. There's no time for all that.”
She froze in her waddling rage around the room. “You put me through that and now you're not leaving that freak?”
“Kenya,” Morgan said, her voice held a hint of closure that resembled death sending a chill down Kenya’s spine. She felt a biting sensation in her chest. What was going on? “I can get Jonathan out of prison.”
Kenya dropped the dress in her hand and eased down on the bed, as the bite became a choking swallow of absolute disbelief. “Don't play with me, Morgan.”
“It's important that you just listen. The man that's holding me is outside. A friend is helping me, and yes I've already called Rick and he's on his way from the airport. I had a little boy five days ago and yes, it's Rick's. Brian thinks he looks like you and Julian my son is light skinned like our biological father, Steve.”
“He's looking for you Morgan. Steve's here in Ireland.”
“I know, don't ask how. If Rick doesn't get here in time I'm leaving my son with someone and they'll contact you after the trial.” Morgan's son cried over the line, sending a jolt of pain up her pelvis to her navel. Ethan was becoming restless.
“No!” Kenya screamed pressing a hand to her stomach, bile rising quickly into her throat. She swallowed the moisture pooling. “This'll kill our parents, Morgan, come on, get the hell out of there.”
“I want you to promise me Rick will get to meet his son?”
She went for her phone fumbling with her purse on the sofa, dumping the contents on the cushion, and g
rimaced as a contraction wrapped around her back to criss-cross over her stomach. “Morgan,” Ugh...”I can get someone over there and--”
“Kenya, are you in labor?”
She waved off Morgan's concern, shaking her head. “Where are you?” Grabbing up her phone she dialed Sophie. She said into the air to Morgan. “I gotta get you out of there.” When Sophie came on the line, she shouted into the phone. “I need you, bring Fiona,” then dropped the phone as pain lanced through her back. She locked her teeth so Morgan wouldn't hear her, she had to get her sister out of there, Brian would kill her and Rick.
“Kenya, listen, this is important. If Rick doesn't get here in time, Jonathan's attorney will get an email at 3:30. There'll be a woman in the courtroom with brown hair that will have some papers for Sophie. Sophie knows her, but the woman wouldn't help her when Sophie asked out of fear, but her son came to me to help Sophie. There's two pieces of information that will free Jonathan. I'm the only one who knows one of them, that's why Brian won't let me leave. I'll be at the trial on Skype, but if you don't see Rick...he didn't make it in time to get us out.”
Kenya crossed her legs suppressing a cramp moving down her thighs. She groaned, “Did Brian hurt you, Morgan?”
“Kenya you're in labor, call Sophie or Momma if she's there.” Kenya moaned into the phone mumbling no over and over. “Kenya I have to pay for what I did. I'm paying for mine now. Take care of your baby.”
“Morgan, come on,” Kenya was full out crying from fear and the twinge of cramps wrapping around her body. “If you hang up, how do I know you'll be okay?” She blew out a breath as the pain eased.
“You don't. I want you to have the life you deserve with Jonathan.”
She blinked rapidly thinking of something to make her get out of there and save herself a violent death. “Brian'll kill you, don't be a hero, get out of there.” Kenya waved Sophie and Fiona through the door, Sophie's eyes wide. “Tell me where...”
“Aye, what's wrong? It's the babe? Who are ye talking to?” Sophie rambled on grabbing Kenya's hospital bag beside the closet. Kenya shook her head. She pointed to the phone on the table indicating Morgan on the line.
Morgan said, “Sophie if that's you I hear, you're about to get your revenge on Brian. Kenya let me do this for you. Big sisters protect their little sisters and I'm twenty seven years behind...I love you Kenya.”
The line went dead.
Chapter Seventeen
Everybody came through for her today. Between the Blakemore’s, Claiborne’s and Erickson's the courtroom was packed along with three rows of town’s people. Her family filled practically one side of the courtroom.
The rich wood of the courtroom has added a heavy sensation to the weight already pressing at her knowing what Morgan could be going through.
From the overhead pendant light hanging with a hint of laughter resembling a noose to the possibility that Jonathan may not be freed.
This was it. The day her husband either comes home or she becomes one of those women that's in love with a man in prison. The thought was unsettling as it was her worst nightmare an inmate for a husband like Karla.
Katherine and Marcus sat eyes wide with pain after Kenya told them about Morgan's call. Without knowing her whereabouts, there was nothing anyone could do except worry.
Easing her gaze around the courtroom, she tried to stay positive watching all the people that came to support her and Jonathan. Ethan was using her bladder as a punching bag and Kenya prayed he stayed there until her husband came home. Turning around in her row behind the defendant’s side of the courtroom her family sat proud and supportive behind her. She could feel her husband’s presence before she could see him.
There he was tall and proud stalking the isle...Jonathan.
Bumbling past Marcus's knees and grasping on to shoulders as she made her way to the isle, Kenya hurried to get to Jonathan now sprinting down the center of the carpet to lift her from the floor, protruding stomach and all. His arms grouped around her, his mouth hungrily feeding on her, bumping teeth, biting lips she didn't care. Angling into the manic kiss, she moaned into his mouth, tears dripping down her face. His scent filled her with each inhale as his hands ran roughly up and down her hips. She could barely catch her breath with her stomach sandwiched between them. He slowly let her feet touch the floor and his hands embraced her stomach. He ducked down kissing her belly through her dress. His scent was masculine and clean and he smelled just as she remembered. Strong, fierce and hers, at least that was what she was clinging to as he came up to her face, his sensual smile directed at her mouth.
“Aye, hell, look at you woman...so beautiful, and thick and mine,” he cursed against her face, gathering her as close as possible to his body again. “Damn you look good, Kenya. I was going crazy thinking about you inside a burning barn.” His hot breath burned down her face and throat. His callused hands rough on her face but she loved every abrasive stroke. He held her inches from his face. “When Jamie told me about the fire I nearly went crazy in prison. Kenya, honey, I could have lost both of you.”
Kenya loved the burning sensation running her hands over his back up his face, kissing, mumbling incoherent words over his chest. Gaelic hit her ears and filled the room and her heart.
“Oh, God honey, you’re so...big, your arms are huge,” she said squeezing his biceps straining under his suit. “You weren't lying, you worked out every day,” she said staring up at him taking in every inch of his handsome face. “Hold me; please I miss you holding me.” He held her and she felt every muscle pinned against her body and her body practically cried from the pleasure of having him so close.” Her face was wet from tears. “Jonathan we lost a lot of testimonials in the fire along with my laptop.”
“Hines thinks what you sent will be enough. He says you and everyone pulled off a miracle getting what you did.” He kept stroking a hand around her belly, making Ethan squirm in the tight space. “How're you feeling? Is me son wearing you out?”
“Mmm...” was a combined answer to him and for the delicious sensation of running her hands down his body, his chest and back and shoulder. Squeezing his biceps, caressing his ears, every place she could reach she touched. “I can't believe you're here in front of me.”
“Shh! I know, Mo Ru'n, shh!” he muttered between fierce kisses over her lips, her face, and her salty tears slipping between their lips. Months without his loving touch, his warm embrace came shaking to the surface and she couldn't contain her pain. He was hard and muscled and flesh and blood and real in her arms.
She angled back speaking through the lump of excitement in her throat marring her words, “Did Hines get my message about Morgan?”
“He told me on the way in. What information could she have?”
“I don't know. All she would tell me was she had her baby and said if Rick, her ex-husband, gets there in time she'll expose Brian.”
“Expose him with what? Yer saying she will nae be here in court?”
“No, she said Brian didn't trust her and was having her watched. She apologized to me and was very upset, but wanted me to know she was sorry for all she'd put me through. She wouldn't tell me where she was, but there's someone in the courtroom that's gonna help me and Sophie.”
“Sophie, why?”
“You know as much as I do now. Hines has everything we could scrape together. We even have kids from the local school coming in.”
He held her stomach. “Are you having any contractions yet?”
Before she could answer, Katherine's perfume announced she stood at Kenya's back. She never took her eyes from Jonathan and his hand smoothing over her stomach. The bailiff came to their sides.
“Mrs...Mr. Blakemore needs to come up front.”
The moment held a crushing weight as the heat from Jonathan's body was separated from Kenya's. She caught his hand on her face and leaned into that caressing touch as he brought their foreheads together to brush a kiss over her nose.
“Are you with me, P
retty Lady?” he asked oblivious to those around them staring at the couple.
She stuttered twice running her thumbs over his Adams apple bobbing up and down his thick neck, swallowed and made a third attempt at forming one word, “Always?”
His bright white smile fed her tired soul, hope, strength, and love. He soothed, “Then don't cry...” he rubbed their noses over the other, the deep blue of honor blazed in the depths of his fierce stare.” Look at me...Ta mo chro'i istigh ionat. You're the only thing that's kept me alive all these months, Kenya. Don't leave me now. You and Ethan are my world.”
Sniffing, she wiped a hand under her nose, not caring how juvenile it appeared, sucked up her courage, and straightened her back; stomach bulging, and gave him her best badass face... a tight quivering brow. “My man's on trial, where else should I be other than by his side.”
She watched those amazing eyes disappear when he closed his lids, stroking a hand down her face his rough thumb gliding over her lips. Raising her hand, she covered his hand holding it to her skin, felt his warm breath on her face. “That's my girl. You've walked through hell for me and Ethan, don't let them close the door before we get to the other side.”
Voices filled the room yet it was just a buzzing noise when all she understood were Jonathan's words.
The bailiff stepped closer and she said in a hurried voice, “I'm gonna fight Brian all the way.” The bailiff got the room's attention. “He's messing with the wrong woman's husband today.” Kenya absorbed each touch of his fingers sliding from hers as they separated and Jonathan was led up to the defendant's table.
He spoke over his shoulder in a proud calm voice, “Save a place for me in the delivery room.”
Nodding was the best she had to offer with her heart half way up her throat.
“I'll have my court come to order.” The Judge said from the stand. Silence crept through the courtroom. Kenya couldn't take her eyes off Jonathan less than six feet away sitting next to his lawyer, Hines. “Because of some new information received in my chambers, and both attorneys are aware of this information, does either side wish to change their plea?”