TTW 3 ( Thicker Than Water 3 )

by Takerra, Allen

  “That’s not true. There’s a woman that can handle me...you just ain’t her.”

  “Now what do I have to do to get you to join forces with me?”

  – Jayde, Still Thicker than Water

  -11-

  The wind whistled loudly as a single thin tree branch tapped against the windowpane in an eerie sort of way. The storm was coming and Tatum kept her eyes on the effects of it, realizing that it added to the already creepy feeling she couldn’t shake.

  As a part of their relocation to Atlanta, whether temporary or permanent they hadn’t decided, the finishing touches on their new 10,000 square foot Georgia home had been placed while Tatum and Ree were in Ecuador. Coming back and finding herself in a brand new place before schedule was a bit of a shock to Tatum, especially since they had to cut the trip short on her part. She knew Ree meant it more as a surprise, but she secretly missed the modesty of the condo, there was too much space and the house seemed to hold whispers to secrets unknown already.

  “Knock, knock.” The fact that he said the words instead of doing the actions made Tatum crack a smile as Ree stepped inside. He strolled over to the side of her bed and took his seat in the recliner he’d placed there.

  “So…how you feeling?”

  Tatum half smiled.

  “Okay, I guess. I haven’t hurled in an hour,” she added with a smile. “I’m sorry I ruined the trip.”

  “You didn’t ruin the trip, stop saying that. I accomplished what I needed to and you got to see the country for a couple of days. Besides, we needed to get back…niggas were having way too much fun.” Ree looked off thinking of Jayde and her Jacuzzi romp and also unknowingly to Tatum, Chauncey’s adventures with the South American sluts, but Tatum only chuckled not knowing how serious he was. She was sitting up, the TV was on but it was watching her and she wanted to move. But she couldn’t. She had been ill for six days now, weak and vomiting nonstop.

  “I don’t know why they call this shit morning sickness…when you have it all the damn time. And I’m sick of watching TV and reading, Ree. I wanna leave this bed,” Tatum kicked at the covers and whined, sounding like Sasha.

  Ree shook his head.

  “You’re not leaving the bed, Tatum. You gonna slow ya ass down. Here, hold up. I got something for you.” He stood up and walked over to a box on the floor they hadn’t got to unpack.

  “Play a game with me.”

  “Ree, you know we can’t do that. The doctor said since I’m fatigued, sex will-”

  “Chess, nasty girl.” He held up the Chess set and Tatum laughed at her thoughts.

  “Ah, damn... I guess I’m just deprived.”

  Ree chuckled at her as he walked back over and began to set up the board and pieces on the bed.

  “When’s the last time you ate?” He asked, setting up his men as Tatum set up hers. Ree had been deep into tying up the ends on the next step of his business agenda for the past couple of hours, leaving Crush to assist Tatum.

  “Jayde brought me some oatmeal and orange juice this morning before y’all left out.”

  Ree looked up, a blank stare directed at her.

  “This morning? Tatum, you can’t be serious. Those are my children, not to mention you’re my wife. I need you to take care of yourself and them. Crush didn’t bring you anything for lunch?” She could tell Ree was upset. She didn’t want him to take it out on Crush, especially when it was her fault.

  “He tried…but I wouldn’t take it. Every time I eat something I fucking throw it up. I hate it.”

  Ree looked at her seriously.

  “You gotta eat. End of discussion. If not for me, do it for them.”

  Tatum sighed.

  “Ree you know I want and love these babies more than anything in the world. I’ll do anything for them. I am eating. I won’t harm them.”

  Ree paid her little mind as he got up and walked over to the intercom. He ordered Crush to bring up a sandwich and soup.

  “No, no more of that soup,” Tatum contested. Ree looked at her as if she didn’t have a say and Tatum breathed heavily. “Ree, I swear. I’ll eat the sandwich. But if I eat any more of that soup I’m gonna go crazy. I have been eating that shit all week. I know Jayde was trying to be nice by making it but God, I need a break. I can’t wait until Rose flies out here so I can eat some real food!”

  “She’ll be out here as soon as we decide what we’re doing.”

  She knew what he meant, as soon as they decided if they would stay in Atlanta for good. Either way, they would keep their homes in both Jamaica and the States, but Ree was ultimately leaving it up to Tatum once his business was done on where they would settle. Atlanta seemed like the place to be before the rift between her and Sasha formed, now Tatum wasn’t sure how it would play out.

  “I know…I’m still thinking about it.”

  He nodded, gave her a soft peck on the lips, and retook his seat and they began their chess game. A few minutes passed, and there was a knock at the door.

  “Bring it in here, Crush,” Ree ordered.

  Crush stepped inside and placed the sandwich, glass of milk and apple on the stand next to Tatum.

  “Uh, yo Respect…we need to rap about something,” Crush calmly told him.

  “Alright…when I’m done.”

  Tatum used his moment of distraction to take one of his pawns. Ree threw her a smile and then they shared one.

  Caught in their own little world, they hardly noticed that Crush was still standing there until he insisted, “It’s a little urgent, my man.”

  Ree blew out air and stood up, looking down at Tatum.

  “No cheating,” he warned with a wink. Tatum wondered what was going on. That was one thing she loved and hated when it came to Ree, he never let her into that aspect of his life. Things could be going smooth as shit or crumbling around them, and Tatum would never know. The two men dismissed themselves.

  Tatum took the opportunity to study the board and try to think of a strategy to outsmart Ree at the game. He was a genius when it came to it, thoroughly skilled, quick thinking, and patient. She rubbed her large belly and a feeling of calm overtook her. A mother…the greatest gift from God. She couldn’t wait to meet her babies. She wondered who they would look like, what they would smell like, how it would feel to hold them.

  A quick glance at the television caused her to do a double take, so hard that she almost caught a crook in her neck. Tatum snatched up the remote and lifted the volume a few notches before glancing at the doorway, wondering if Ree would walk in. Her entire body broke out in a cold sweat as she listened to the breaking news broadcast.

  “It has been confirmed. The body remains found in the Chappaqua Woods last Thursday have been identified as belonging to world renowned attorney, Johnny Carson. Carson, who has defended some of the most prominent figures in politics, music, and Hollywood, was reported missing by his mother and colleagues last month after he failed to show for several appearances. Four days ago, children playing discovered what appeared to be a head of an adult male, the eyes horrifically carved out. About a hundred feet away, a torso was discovered, the arms and legs detached as well as the victim’s male sex organ removed and placed horrifically in his rectum, in a self sodomizing action. Any further details of this gruesome case would be ridiculously tasteless, however I will say this…this was a crime of personal vendetta. Johnny Carson had obviously made someone very, very angry. Details of a memorial service and any leads on this case will be updated as we receive them-”

  The television powered off instantly.

  “You should give the TV a rest.”

  Tatum looked over at Ree, her mouth slightly agape and her heart racing faster than she thought humanly possible. She felt faint, sick, horrified. Even though something deep down inside of her had expected this. A man like Ree? Let Johnny breathe after what he’d done to her? But somehow she felt like a little kid who had been caught snooping, although he had to know this would be well publicized. All of this must hav
e been a story that broke while they were away in Ecuador. Tatum wished she would have stayed there, maybe never heard what she just had, although that was highly unlikely.

  Ree threw the alternate remote down on the bed and came to her coolly, as if nothing had happened.

  “You good?”

  Tatum swallowed hard, her face becoming warm and her body ice cold simultaneously. Ree was half amazing and half monster, she didn’t understand why she always failed to remember that until he drastically put it right in her face.

  “I’m…I’m fine.”

  “Good. Now maybe you should get some rest.”

  Tatum ran her hands through her hair and nodded, her breathing trying its best to stabilize.

  “Um…I…I guess you’re right.”

  She scooted down, bringing the covers up over her upper body and attempting to put the last two minutes behind her. Ree grabbed the chess set and placed it down next to the bed and the unspoken words floated lingering in the air. He dimmed the lights and turned to make his way out, no expression adorning his handsome face. But this was not them, and this was not Tatum, she had to say something.

  “Ree, did you-”

  “I love you, Tatum.”

  He cut her off. He cut her off with those words and Tatum knew that was it. That was all he would say. He didn’t even turn around, but she got it. He did what he did because he loved her.

  Tatum nodded and took a deep breath as she watched him walk out and crack their bedroom door.

  “I love you, too.”

  That’s all she would say as well.

  The powerfully loud sound of crashing thunder broke the silence of the peaceful bedroom. However, it wouldn't be the storm that awoke Tatum a few hours later, close to three a.m.

  It was an eerie sense of loneliness that had seemed to creep up over her, in her bed, even as her eyes remained shut and her mind danced between sleep and consciousness. An instant feeling of coldness, a sensing that her body was now the only one that occupied her otherwise warm bed stirred her.

  Tatum's almond shaped eyes slowly fluttered open, taking in the darkness of the bedroom and then tempted to shut again, but she fought against it.

  “Mm...” A soft moan escaped her lips and she attempted to roll from her right side over to her left. She wanted to face him. Even after learning of what had happened, she wanted to be close to him.

  She wanted to see the silhouette of his Adonis sculpted build under their covers, see the shapes of his shoulder, neck, face, nose, and lips and smell his masculine scent. Hear his heavy breathing as a soothing remedy to this now uncomfortable feeling of anxiety. Ree would make it go away. That's how dominant he was. Able to put her at ease even in his state of rest. And every night when she awoke, he was always there next to her doing just that.

  Tatum shifted and turned, and smiled prematurely as she reached her arm over to connect with him. Her dainty hand was met with emptiness, bare sheet and pillows. This time, her eyes were forced open by her curiosity.

  Where is he?

  Tatum sat up, now aware that she was definitely alone in her massive bed. She gradually lifted up and glanced around the dim bedroom.

  “...Ree?”

  As if everything else was now awakened with her sight, all of Tatum's other senses now came to life. Her damp gown clung to her body, and Tatum wondered why she was sweating so much. She ran her hands through her long hair and down over her frame, and panic struck in her heart. She smelled it. It was a distinct yet unfamiliar smell. One that she hadn't smelled often but recognized it when she did. How had she missed it before?

  Tatum's heart began to thump loudly, so loud that she could hear it clearly over the violent storm. Throwing the blanket back, she frantically ran her hands over the Italian linen sheets hoping, just praying, and then...

  “Oh, god no...”

  Wetness. It was all over. It surrounded her. Dread and trepidation completely consumed her as she took deep and short breaths of fear and her eyes rimmed with tears. Tatum's mouth remained in an O of horror as she hesitantly reached for the nightstand, completely terrified. Now she could feel the dampness all around. The bed wasn't just wet, it was soaked. Kicking the blanket to the floor in a frenzy, Tatum's hoarse moans were caught in her throat but couldn't escape until she knew for sure. She flicked on the desk lamp and her suspicions were confirmed in the second that it took the light to travel and illuminate the bedroom. Blood was everywhere!

  It was all she saw and Tatum brought her hand to her mouth in terror, but noticed that it was now red and dripping with the ghastly wetness.

  “Oh god...oh my god,” she whispered, her voice trembling.

  Where was he? And as if her mind had finally registered and connected the two, Tatum shook her head at the reality of his absence and the fear she felt from it. She needed him, now, drastically and immediately.

  Tatum allowed her lungs to inhale a deep and shaken breath of air that assisted her in belting out the most horrific and bloodcurdling scream that she had ever experienced in her entire life. The tears of dismay continued to streak down her face as the vibration started from the pit of her stomach and traveled up through her vocal chords in desperation.

  “Rrrrrrrreeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”

  “Somebody get the doctor! Get the doctor now! This woman’s bleeding way too quickly, we’re losing this baby!”

  “No.” Tatum’s cries were barely audible but the pain was etched all in and through her face as they pushed her with rapid speed through the hospital halls. Blood soaked her entire lower body, had been left in puddles in the Maybach seats, and now had the stretcher completely colored red. This couldn’t be happening to her.

  “Babies,” she tried to mumble, but it was pointless. There was no way she could be heard over all of the commotion. “Two babies…save my babiessss,” she wailed softly, too weak to do anything more.

  “Somebody pleaseeee!” The paramedic screamed with tears in her own eyes. She was a mother as well, so this was personal. Two nurses were hot on her trail leaving behind a frantic Ree who had to be subdued by three security guards. “We’re losing them!”

  Tatum thought she had finally gotten it right and realized there were two embryos growing inside of her, but then it hit her through her traumatic state that the “them” the woman was speaking of, included herself. At that moment, she didn’t care. She just wanted her babies to be healthy… and alive.

  “Please, please, please! Where’s the doctor?” She heard someone scream again.

  There was a whirlwind of chaos surrounding her and at a terrifying time like this, she was walled by strangers. Tatum could hear a male’s voice now, recognize the harsh demands being spewed around, he was the doctor, however the rapid blood loss had her mind and vision clouding. Tatum wanted to cry some more but she was too weak. What had I done? The sex? The hot tub? The tea? The hustle of the wedding? What did I do to deserve this? It has to be my fault…it just has to. Stress over the Sasha situation? Stress over Ree and his trial and drug bullshit? Lord, please forgive me. Please God don’t take away from me the best thing that ever happened to me. Don’t take my blessing lord! Please don’t take my babies! Tatum silently begged.

  She thought back to the ride to the hospital, she had never seen Ree so, well…scared.

  “Floor this mothafucka, Crush! Fuck them lights!” Ree was a madman, spit spewing from his mouth, veins bulging out of his neck. She remembered Crush somberly suggesting that maybe they’d wait for the ambulance as Ree cradled Tatum in the backseat, her head in his lap, her blood filling the seats.

  “I’m not waiting for them mothafuckas! This is my fucking wife and my fucking kids! I’m not waiting for no mothafucka to save them. Now floor this bitch!” In a nanosecond his voice transformed to calm and soothing vibrations.

  “Tatum, baby it’s gonna be okay. You hear me? You’re gonna be okay. The babies…the babies are gonna be fine. You hear me?”

  Even in his dominant
assurance, Tatum could hear something that crushed her inside – a small glimmer of doubt that he tried to conceal.

  Tatum felt her breaths becoming shallow as the lighting around her changed, it was much brighter. Maybe she was being transferred to an operating room. Was the light in her face? Or was she dying? One thing she knew for sure was if her babies didn’t make it, she certainly didn’t want to either. Losing them would top her list of the tragedies she’d weathered. She’d certainly check out.