Dreams Do Come True

by Jada Pearl

  On Bended Knee

  Nico

  After his parents left his room, he went to look for Shontell. He went to her room and was surprised when Sandy said that she had been there and left. He didn’t know where she could have gone. He was walking towards Felecia and David’s room when he heard music. It was just after midnight. He opened the door and heard Shontell singing and playing. He didn’t want to startle her, so he sat down and just listened as the lyrics requested. Her voice was so beautiful and strong. He wondered why she had never pursued singing professionally. When she was done, he wiped the tears that he hadn’t known fell and clapped. He walked towards the front, and he got himself together before he reached her. “That was beautiful,” he told her

  “I didn’t know you came in here. Thank you,” she told him, as she felt nervous.

  “I was looking for you and heard the music. I came in here to see what it was and saw you. I didn’t want to startle you, so I just let you finish. I know sometimes that music is just what is needed,” he told her. Nico sat next to her on the piano bench, and she scooted over.

  “Yeah, when I was younger…whenever I was mad, hurt, or upset…I would just go in my room. I would light some candles and just sing until my throat hurt. It was my way of gaining my sanity back.”

  “Yes, so I see. You know, you have a gift.” Shontell hunched her shoulders at his comment.

  “No, I know I have a voice. I never considered my voice or singing a gift. It always caused me more trouble than help with other people.”

  “But Shontell, you do things with your voice just like you do with your heart. You make people feel something.”

  “Nico, I like singing. That’s why I sing mostly in church and for fun. I couldn’t do what you do. I respect your talent and your career. But that business isn’t for me.” Nico understood what she meant, so he let it go.

  “Come on, your tea is getting cold,” he told her, reaching out for her hand. She took his hand, and they walked back to the room together.

  Shontell

  Shontell and Nico came into the dining area. The captain closed off the area where the stabbing had happened, and she was glad. She wouldn’t be able to eat there. They only had six more hours of cruise time remaining. The group had one more concert left, and it was a private show for some contest winners. Felecia came over and gave her a hug.

  “How you holding up?” she asked her.

  “Thanks to Nico, a lot better than I could be.”

  “Yes, he does care a whole lot about you. So what are you going to do when they go overseas next week?”

  “Heal the best way I can. I think Ebony’s funeral will be at the end of the week. After that, I will just try to continue with as much normalcy as possible,” she told her.

  “Well, please make sure you keep in touch. I won’t be joining them.”

  “Really, and why is that?”

  “Doctor’s orders,” she said, smiling.

  “Doctor’s orders? Does that mean what I think it means?” she asked her, excited about the news.

  “Yeah, it does. We found out last night. I was so upset about what happened, I got sick. The doctor came and then he told us. We were both caught off guard. But, we are happy and, outside of our parents, you’re the only other person that knows.” The ladies hugged again, as she promised to keep the secret. They talked all morning until Sandy joined them, and she filled them both in on what happened with Jesse and the conversation she had with Nico’s mother. They all spent the rest of the day together. She needed their company, and they were all smiling by the end of the day. It was the first time she felt normal since Ebony’s death.

  Nico

  Nico and the rest of the members said goodbye to every last cruise guest. After three hours, the ship was empty. He went back to his room. He opened his bedroom door and, on his bed, lay a dozen roses. He smiled. He had never been given flowers by a woman. There also was a framed picture of him and Shontell and a note: A small token to thank you for loving me, and for being by my side through my storms. Loving you, Shontell

  Shontell, Sandy, and Felecia had all gone to an early dinner with his parents and David’s mother. He would see her before they left for the airport in the morning. He gathered his things, and he heard a knock on the door.

  He opened it, and Dennis walked into his room. “Hey man, are you ready?”

  “Yeah, I was just gathering my small bag,” he told him, as Dennis eyed the roses. “Those for Shontell?” he asked.

  “Nope. In fact, they are from Shontell. They were on my bed when I got back, with this and a note,” he said showing him the framed picture. Dennis was quiet, and he just sat in the chair waiting for Nico.

  “Dennis, I think it’s a good idea if you see a professional in regards to your personal issues dealing with women and these separation issues,” Nico told him, giving him a soft but serious look. He waited for him to explode on the comment, but he didn’t. He thought maybe he was growing.

  “A therapist?” he asked finally, with a shocked, sad look on his face.

  “Yes, a therapist. It’s not a bad thing. In fact, I think it would help more than hurt. Just think about it,” he told his friend. Checking the suite to make sure nothing was left behind, they walked out. Nico was upset to learn that the media had caught wind of what happened on the boat. Someone leaked the story, and Shontell was hysterical. She didn’t want the media in her face. Martin found a way to get them to the car unnoticed. Nico, Shontell, and his parents rode in the town car in silence. Shontell sat next to his mother, and he couldn’t see her eyes through the sunglasses she had on. Arriving at the airport, she stepped out of the car and helped Bethany out. Nico watched the interaction between his mother and Shontell. Shaking his dad’s hand, he waited for them to finish. Nate, who wasn’t joining them, had gone ahead with the band members.

  “Remember what I told you, dear, sunshine is coming,” she told her, as they hugged. She turned to her son and hugged him. “Take care of her and you,” she told him. They both waved as they entered the airport. Seated back inside of the car, Shontell lay her head on his shoulder. They were supposed to be heading to the cruise wrap-up party. Nico kissed her hair.

  “Do you mind if we go back to the hotel? I don’t think I am up for the party this evening,” Shontell said, as she glanced up at him,

  “Of course. I am sure everyone will understand our absence,” Nico told her, as he redirected Brian. He then texted Martin and also Sandy for Shontell.

  Dennis

  Dennis overheard John say that Nico and Shontell wouldn’t be coming to the wrap-up. He went and grabbed a drink from the bartender, as he tried not to watch Sandy dancing with the man she had been with during the cruise and Indiana. He sat in the corner and wanted to be mad at Sandy, but he knew he had lost her fairly. He got what he deserved. He thought back to what Nico said in his room. He envied his friend. He had found love. No one deserved it more than he did. He thought about Jesse and all that had happened. What had happened to him to make him snap? None of them would ever know. The captain let him speak to him before he was taken off the boat that morning. Jesse looked like he had aged ten years overnight. Jesse wouldn’t say much, outside of apologizing for his actions. “You know, I still don’t understand what happened with Jesse,” Dennis said.

  “Love can make you do the craziest thing. So when you find it, bro, don’t do what I did. Treasure it, if she is what you want,” he told him, as he kept shaking his head.

  He didn’t reply to his words. Jesse was going to be tried in Miami. They said the case was simple. He closed his eyes as he felt his heart tighten when Sandy kissed that guy. David walked back up to him and looked in the direction his brother was looking. “Man you can’t touch her with a ten-foot pole. You messed that up. You may as well get over it,” he told him. David pulled out a business card from his suit pocket. “Nico mentioned you might not be ready for this, but here’s a referral just in case,” he said. Dennis took the card
from his hand and read it. Was he ready to work on his problems? Setting his glass down, he knew he was. He pulled his phone out and dialed the number. Walking into a room, he waited for the call to be answered.

  Shontell

  The week went by quickly. Shontell was getting dressed. Today was going to be one of the hardest events she would ever have to attend. “Are you ready?” Nico asked her, interrupting her thoughts. “As ready as I can be,” she told him. She took his hand, as they headed to the waiting funeral home car. When they arrived at the church, Shontell sat there and let the tears fall. She blew out a hard breath and wiped her face with the hanky that Nico had just handed her. He took her by the hand; getting out, they were joined by the rest of the group: Sandy, Eric, and Martin. They all entered the church, and she was greeted by Ebony’s mother. She had only seen her a few times, and she still greeted her warmly even under the circumstances. “Shontell, I am glad you agreed to sing today. Even with all that happened, my daughter looked up to you. I hope that you have forgiven her indiscretions.”

  “Ms. Walker, I forgave her. Don’t you worry about that now. And we will talk later,” she told her. Elana sat in the first pew, and looked at her daughter’s body in the casket. She knew that man wasn’t going to bring her happiness, but she didn’t think this would have happened. She did wish their relationship could have been better. Elana did the best she could with what she had for her kids, but her daughter never saw it that way and didn’t appreciate the things she sacrificed so they could have a roof over their head and clothes on their back. She was glad those young men offered to pay for the service. It was a life saver for her and her sons, because she never thought to have life insurance on them or herself.

  Shontell sat between her parents and Nico. She tried not to look over in the casket. She bounced her knee in nervousness, trying to get herself together. When it was time for her to sing, Nico squeezed her hand. She took to the podium, and the music began.

  “Here we are again, that old familiar place where the winds will blow, no one ever knows the time nor place, don’t cry for me. Don’t shed a tear. The time I shared with you will always be and when I am gone, please carry on. Don’t cry for me…” Shontell belted it out. There was not a dry eye in the church, including hers. She didn’t even remember the rest of the service. After the service, they all went out for dinner. The table was mostly quiet throughout. They needed a distraction so she spoke. “So guys, tell me about your overseas tour.” It wasn’t directed at any one person, but David began to tell her the cities they would be visiting. The room’s atmosphere changed, and it was just what she needed. The laughter and the talking helped keep her mind off seeing Ebony in that casket. She noticed Nico watching her throughout the night. She tried not to think about the fact that he would be leaving her tomorrow evening.

  When they got back to her house, she brought him to her laying her head on his chest, “I just wanted to say thank you.”

  “Thank you?”

  “Yes, thank you. I wouldn’t have gotten through the last few weeks without you. You were with me through all this—the hounding press and today, the funeral. A lot of men would have bailed a long time ago.”

  “Shontell, I love you. Being with you is the only place I want to be,” he told her, as he kissed her tears from her face.

  “I love you, too,” she told him. They spent the rest of the night talking. In the morning, her parents came over for breakfast. Shontell’s dad asked to speak to Nico alone.

  Nico

  Nico and Mr. Banner went out onto Shontell’s back patio. The men took a seat, and her father began talking to him.

  “You know me and my wife were so afraid things were going to go bad with Shontell and Jesse. I could never pinpoint what it was about him that made me so uneasy. It is sad to see I was proven right. We can’t thank you enough for being there for Shon. She is our only child and the highlight of our lives. We could have lost her to that maniac. We are just glad that it’s over.”

  “Yes, sir. I agree. If I would have lost her, I can’t imagine what state I would be in. I love Shontell.”

  “You love her. That’s a deep statement and responsibility. I am sure you already know that. I don’t think she can handle being hurt any more, if you get the meaning of my words, son.” Nico understood what he was saying clearly. Before he could respond, Shontell and her mother joined them with the breakfast. “So, Nico, Shontell told us that you are headed overseas for a few weeks,” Mrs. Banner said to him.

  “Yes, ma’am, we are. It is a nine-city tour, but we will be mostly in Japan. It’s one of our biggest tours. I was hoping that maybe your daughter would join me for part of it.”

  “Excuse me! When were you going to discuss this with me?” a shocked Shontell asked, looking at Nico and then her parents.

  “Before I left this evening. We can talk about it more later. It is just a thought. I just thought you could use a change of scenery with all that has happened.”

  “Well, sweetie, he does have a point. You’ve never been to Japan before, and it could be good for you,” Mrs. Banner said in defense of Nico’s comment. The look on Shontell’s face said she wasn’t pleased with his comment. They ate in silence for a little while. Nico realized he may have really put his foot in his mouth this time. Nico’s phone vibrated in his pocket. He ignored it because, at this moment, what was going on at the table was more important—or so he thought.

  Shontell

  Shontell managed to get through dinner. She tried not to be so mad at Nico. But it was hard for her to act like she wasn’t. She walked her parents to the door and kissed them both. Why did everyone feel the need to have to protect her?

  “Are you upset with me?”

  “Why do you feel the need to protect me? What else can happen that hasn’t happened already?” Shontell was voicing the thoughts she had been thinking. Before he could answer her, his cell phone went off again. He looked at it, frowning. Looking up at her, he told her, “I have to take this.”

  “Go ahead. I need a little air anyway.” Nico stepped into the kitchen foyer, and she headed to the patio. Turning and watching him as his body language changed as he listened to the caller. He spoke softly, so she wasn’t able to hear what he was saying. But she knew it was about her, because he looked at her a couple of times. Throwing her arms up in frustration, she walked to the banister and looked out over her yard.

  Shontell had been outside for a few minutes when she heard a sound behind her. She turned around and called out to Nico. When he didn’t respond, she walked back into the room and saw him lying on the floor. She went over to him, but was caught off guard by the voice behind her. “Miss me, sweetness?” Jesse said from the side of where Shontell was kneeling.

  “Oh my god, what are you doing? How did you get out of jail?” she asked Jesse, her face full of alarm.

  “It’s called escaping. Guess you haven’t watched the news today. I fled during the transport.”

  “But why, why are you here? Haven’t you hurt me enough? Why can’t you just leave me alone?” she asked him, as her tears spilled down her face.

  “I told you on the ship that I love you. If I can’t be with you, then you damn sure are not going to be with him,” Jesse told her, as he was motioning towards a still-unconscious Nico. Shontell tried to jar Nico lightly to get him to wake up. She jumped when Jesse yelled at her.

  “GET AWAY FROM HIM!” he told her, as he pulled out a gun and pointed it at Nico. Shontell’s whole body began to shake, and she began to cry even harder. She needed to figure out how to make Jesse focus on her. She stood up and headed towards the couch. “Jesse, please don’t do this. I will do whatever it is that you want. Just leave him alone,” she told him. She saw Nico stirring out the corner of her eye. She racked her brain for something to do. All she could think about was just to divert him with talking.

  “Come on, let’s…let’s go talk,” she stammered, motioning towards the patio. Jesse looked at her and then back
at Nico. He needed to make sure he wasn’t moving. He looked back at Shontell as she headed towards the patio. She stood at the railing waiting for him, and he didn’t see her push the panic button that she had installed out there. All she had to do was stall him until they got there.

  Nico

  Nico was still looking at Shontell; he could only see her back. Martin had just informed him that Jesse escaped. They had not watched the news. Because of all the media attention, he wanted to shield Shontell from it as much as he could. So they didn’t even touch the television. Ending his call, he decided they needed to go to the hotel and not stay there tonight as originally planned. He tucked his phone in his pocket and was about to head out to the balcony when he felt a sharp pain in the back of his head.

  Nico didn’t know how long he had been knocked out, but he could feel the throbbing. He opened his eyes and saw Jesse and Shontell. He quickly closed his eyes when saw Jesse pointing a gun in his direction. He knew they were talking, but he couldn’t understand their words. As they pain subsided some, he was soon able to make out their conversation. He heard Shontell reasoning with him and caught on quickly to do what she was trying to do. He saw Jesse follow her to the patio, and he slowly made his way over to the door. He made a mistake and hit the chair. Jesse heard him. He came running back into the room. “Going somewhere, man?” he asked him with a sneer on his face. “Why don’t you just leave before the police get here?” Nico said to him. He didn’t even know if the police were actually coming. Jesse grabbed Shontell by the elbow. “Hell, it doesn’t matter if they come or not. I don’t have anything else to lose. I damn sure ain’t going to prison. So, if I kill you both and myself that will be the end of it. I can’t leave here without having another sweet piece of Shontell,” he said, as he ran his tongue down the side of her face. Shontell flinched and cried out, as he tightened his grip on her and held the gun to her side. Nico wanted to lunge at him, but didn’t want to take the chance of Shontell getting hurt.