by A. C. Arthur
They continued eating and talking, covering a range of subjects, one of which was their mother, Evelyn. They were all concerned about how she was taking Harmon’s death, so Malcolm and Ty agreed to go and check up on her once Shondra and Connor left.
“Ty, tell Felicia I’ll call her so we can get back into our lunch ritual,” Shawnie said as they walked away. Ty and Malcolm rode in Malcolm’s Mercury Mariner Hybrid through the city streets and got onto the highway that would lead them to the outskirts of the city, where the Braddock estate was. Ty liked his brother’s truck but wasn’t impressed by its size or new-age technology. He favored the old, tried-and-true vehicles and was looking forward to taking one of his favorites—the vintage teal 1963 Chevrolet Corvette he kept in the garage at the estate—out for a spin. It had been a while since he’d indulged in his only other hobby besides work. In truth, it had been too long.
Ty enjoyed the scenery as Malcolm drove. He thought about his wife and their evening together. They must have kissed on that balcony for hours. All he knew for certain was that when he’d finally had to walk her to the door, his body was hard as steel and he was needing her more than he’d ever had in his life.
But Felicia had held to her word. She didn’t want them to rush things. She wanted the whole dating, courting, whatever-you-wanted-to-call-it routine all over again. Ty wasn’t really down for the waiting to sleep with her again—especially since they were already legally married and he’d gotten her pregnant—but he knew enough to give her what she wanted in that regard. He was looking at his marriage like a business deal now: it needed to be handled delicately until the final contracts were signed—the “final contracts” being the moment Felicia moved back in with him. That thought made him smile.
“What are you over there smiling about?” Malcolm asked. “You must have made another million or something, you look so happy.”
Ty cleared his throat and pretended to adjust his seat belt. “Nah, it’s nothing. Just enjoying the scenery.”
“Man, you can’t see anything but asphalt and cars driving too fast to get to someplace that’s probably not all that important. That is not what put that smile on your face. So what’s up?”
“It’s nothing really. Just that things have been bad for a few months and they’re finally starting to look a little better.”
“You mean you and Felicia?”
“Why would you say that?” Ty asked. He’d been careful not to let anyone in his family know about his and Felicia’s separation. For all they knew, she was just spending more time working and with her family. Her appearance at the funeral had helped tremendously, as both his mother and Shondra were happy to see her.
“Come on, Ty. I know you, and I know when something’s bothering you. You were on edge even before Dad’s death. I assumed it was about your wife since your business is doing so well. Felicia is the only thing you love more than work and your cars.”
Ty thought about his brother’s words for a moment, searching for and accepting the truth in them. “Things were a little shaky with us for a while. But now we’re cool.”
“Shaky, how?” Malcolm persisted.
Ty sighed, knowing his brother could be just as stubborn as him. That was one trait they’d all inherited from Harmon. They weren’t going to make the additional twenty minutes of this ride without him telling Malcolm all he wanted to know, so there was no need in even trying.
“She left me,” Ty said quietly.
“What? She left? Why?”
“I don’t really know. I mean, I think I know now. But when it happened, I had no idea.”
Malcolm shook his head. “That doesn’t sound right.”
“She left right after the New Year. I came home one day and she was gone. Then the day of the funeral she showed up. I thought things were back to normal, that whatever she’d been going through was fixed. So we slept together.”
“But?”
“I didn’t say but.”
Malcolm chuckled. “Still, I know there’s one coming.”
“But apparently things still weren’t okay. She left again. I tried to call her. I left messages at her job and on her cell. I didn’t even know where she was staying.”
“Did you call her parents?”
“No.”
“Why?”
“The same reason I didn’t tell any of you. I didn’t want them to know. Marriage is sacred to Felicia. Marshall and Lydia have been together for a long time and they have a great relationship. I didn’t think she would run to them and tell them she was giving up on ours.”
“So what’s going on now?”
Ty thought for a moment. He rarely went for walks, especially during a weekday when he should have been working. But had he not been coming down that street, had he not glanced inside that store, he wouldn’t be feeling as content as he was now. “I saw her yesterday.”
Malcolm glanced at Ty, then back at the road. “You did? Where? Did you go to her job like some stalker?”
Ty frowned, offended that his brother would even suggest such a thing. “I wouldn’t do that.”
“I know you wouldn’t. That’s why you haven’t spoken to or seen your wife in months.” Malcolm chuckled. “You’re too cool to show your emotions that way.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Just tell me what happened when you saw her.”
Ty decided he wanted this conversation over with sooner rather than later, so he dismissed Malcolm’s comment. “She’s pregnant.”
“What! It’s yours, right?”
“Don’t play games, Malcolm. Of course it’s mine. She is my wife.” And if Ty knew one thing about Felicia, it was that she was loyal. She would never step out on him, no matter how bad things were. As long as they were legally married—and this was true for him, as well—there would be no sleeping with anybody else.
“I can’t tell,” Malcolm said flippantly.
“All right, what’s that supposed to mean? And I want a straight answer.”
Malcolm shrugged. “I don’t have a problem giving you one, little brother. You’ve been working and working since the day you and Felicia got married. You know why she left? Because she didn’t think you’d miss her one way or another.”
Ty opened his mouth to speak then quickly closed it again.
“Yeah, you know I’m right. Felicia’s the type of woman that needs attention, Ty, and you weren’t giving it to her. You better be thanking the good Lord that she’s carrying your baby and not some other man’s.”
“Just because you’re driving doesn’t mean I won’t hit you. Watch what you say about my wife.”
Malcolm chuckled. “Don’t get mad at me. I’m just keeping it real. There’s more to life than work. It took me a while to realize that, but I see it clearly now. Felicia wants more than just money in the bank, Ty. She wants the whole fairy tale.”
“I know what my wife wants, thank you very much.” Ty shifted in his seat. “This all sounds real professional coming from a man who’s been running from a serious commitment most of his adult life.”
“I’m not downplaying my faults. But I’m wiser now.”
“You mean you’re Gloria-whipped now.”
“Whatever.” Malcolm laughed. “But seriously, I think you really need to think about what I’ve said and listen to what I’m sure Felicia’s saying. She’s pregnant now, man. It’s time for you to take your marriage and your family more seriously than your job.”
“If I don’t work, how do I support my family?”
“Ty, you’re not destitute. You have more money than most men twice your age. Besides, it’s not all about the money. It’s about living your life before it’s too late. Don’t you want to be there for Felicia and for your child?”
“Of course I do. And I will. That’s why I have to work—to make sure they have everything they need all the time.”
“I’m betting that all they’re going to need is you,” Malcolm said seriously.
�
��Thanks for the advice, big brother, but I’ve got this under control.”
Malcolm shrugged and Ty hoped he was going to let it rest for now. “I don’t have to tell you that this conversation goes no further than you and me.”
“I’m not an idiot, Ty. Mom doesn’t need this type of drama right now, and Shawnie’s so in love with Connor that she couldn’t care less what the rest of us are doing.”
Ty smiled. “Yeah, that’s weird as hell to see, isn’t it?”
“It’s borderline nasty. I’m going to have to keep my distance.”
“Don’t hate—you and Gloria are like that, too. I’ve seen you.”
It was Malcolm’s turn to smile. “Whatever.”
Felicia had one hour to do class planning every day. While her first-graders were in gym, she sat behind her desk and reread the afternoon’s reading lesson. She was just beginning the slippery trek into phonics and needed to remain focused. Twenty six-year-olds were full of energy and inquisitiveness. Neither of which made them ready to focus on learning to read.
She rearranged the flash cards with the sight words she would start with, and a memory from the past sneaked up on her.
She and Ty were back in school. He’d been studying for an exam in his literature class. Ty was a whiz with numbers but hated reading classic literature or poetry. So she’d come up with the idea to write the poet’s name on one side of the card and a passage from one of his/her more notable works on the other.
They were in her dorm, she lying across her bed while Ty sat on the floor dribbling a basketball with the finesse of an NBA player. She’d flash him a card. His dark eyes would shift away from his hand and the ball for just a second, and then he’d recite the passage on the other side of the card. It had been when she’d flashed the card that read “Lady Montagu” and his immediate, unwavering response had been, “The man who feels the dear disease, Forgets himself, neglects to please, The crowd avoids, and seeks the groves, And much he thinks when much he loves.” At that very moment Felicia knew without a doubt she was in love with him.
He’d spoken the words with such sincerity, such heartfelt honesty, that she’d believed he was speaking them directly to her instead of simply reciting the passage from memory.
“Can I put the names on the board for rec time, Mrs. Braddock?”
The high-pitched voice of one of her students interrupted the memory, and Felicia cleared her throat.
“Madeline, what are you doing here? You’re supposed to be in gym.” Madeline Yi was a precocious, cheerful girl of Asian descent. Her inky hair, adorable round cheeks and inquisitive nature were a highlight to Felicia’s day.
“I got my good shoes on so I can’t pissisipate,” Madeline said, her tongue slipping through the gap where her two front teeth used to be.
Felicia looked down to see that the child did, in fact, have on a lovely pair of patent leather shoes. Totally unsuitable for playing dodgeball. “The word is participate,” she gently corrected while standing up behind her desk. “We’ll have to find something for you to do then.”
“I can put the names on the board for rec,” Madeline insisted.
“No. I’ll do that.”
“Why?”
“Because I’m the teacher,” Felicia answered as the little girl followed her around the classroom.
“But I can be your helper.”
“Yes. You can. And I’m going to find something for you to help me with.” Felicia continued to look around her cheerfully decorated classroom for an assignment. She could have Madeline reorder the numbers for their leapfrog calendar, or she could put Madeline in charge of the booklets for the phonics lesson. However, she got the impression that Madeline was sure of what she wanted to do.
“But I want to help you put the names on the board for rec.”
Felicia turned, too quickly, because Madeline bumped into her the moment she did. “Excuse me,” she said, staring down into the child’s serious expression.
Madeline nodded, her bone-straight hair gently brushing her shoulders.
“What’s so special about the names on the rec board, Madeline?” Felicia asked.
The child remained quiet. A sure sign that something was going on. Stooping down until she was eye level with the child, Felicia said in her best, no-nonsense-but-compassionate voice, “Tell me the truth. Why do you want to put the names on the board?”
Madeline’s thin lips protruded but Felicia did not waver. She continued to stare at her student expectantly. Until poor Madeline couldn’t hold it a moment longer.
“That dirty Jimmy Petri called me a name in gym class, so he doesn’t get any rec time.” Madeline had said this on one long breath then folded her arms over her chest, clearly indignant about the whole affair.
Felicia tried to hide her smile. Jimmy Petri was a little boy with the biggest green eyes she’d ever seen and a head topped with golden curls. All the kids called him dirty because he had a tendency to pick his nose and not wash his hands. Felicia had unsuccessfully been working with Jimmy on this unsanitary habit of his but recognized it was age-appropriate behavior. One day, Felicia was sure, the same girls that unmercifully teased Jimmy were going to be head over heels in love with him, because his boyish cuteness was definitely going to flourish into one handsome man.
“Now, Madeline, Jimmy’s mother didn’t name him ‘dirty,’ so I need for you to stop calling him that. It isn’t polite.”
The child look appalled. “It’s not polike for him to pick his nose, Mrs. Braddock.”
Again Felicia held a chuckle, a hand involuntarily going to her stomach. It was moments like these that made her long to be a mother. She couldn’t wait to have her own child. Ty’s child.
“No, it’s not, Madeline. But I’m sure Jimmy will stop that soon. Now, what name did he call you?”
Madeline tapped one patent leather shoe while giving Felicia a look of pure impatience. “He called me a pampered princess so I hate him!” she said with a statement-making stomp of her foot.
Madeline’s parents were wealthy and did spoil her rotten. But who could blame them? Felicia thought. The little girl was adorable. Still, a parent’s spoiling could lead to potentially obnoxious children in the long run. Felicia just hadn’t realized this would happen as early as the first grade.
“That’s not such a bad name.” And not far from the truth, Felicia thought.
Madeline exhaled a breath, blowing her bangs momentarily off her forehead. “I don’t want him calling me that.”
“Well, maybe you should try calling Jimmy by his name and he’ll give you the same courtesy.”
“I don’t have to do what he says.”
Yeah, spoiling adorable little Madeline might not be such a good idea. “No. You don’t. But then he doesn’t have to do what you say, either.”
“That’s why I’m not going to put his name on the rec board.”
Okay, it was time to let Madeline know who the boss was, at least in this classroom. “You don’t have that authority, Madeline. Only I can decide who goes on the board.”
“I told you he called me a name,” she said, her voice rising an octave.
Felicia remained calm. “And I’ve heard you call him names.”
Madeline’s pout grew, her impatience with Felicia showing. Felicia reached for the little girl’s hand. “How about you help pass out the phonics books for this afternoon and leave the rec board to me?”
Madeline took a few minutes to consider Felicia’s offer. Then, with a tentative smile, she slipped her tiny hand into Felicia’s. With a smile, Felicia led the girl over to the bookstand. It wasn’t a permanent solution to the problem of name-calling, but at least she’d avoided the all-out war that would have undoubtedly kicked off after Jimmy noticed his name intentionally left off the board, cutting him out of his recreational time.
As the two of them worked, Felicia thought again about the child growing inside of her and the man who was her husband. How would they raise their child? How would
they draw the line between loving and spoiling this precious little miracle? She didn’t have a clue, but she knew one thing for sure—she was going to love this baby unconditionally. It was a part of her and Ty—that alone was special. And maybe, just maybe, there would be more children for them on the horizon.
Chapter 4
After a brief visit with his mother, Ty had gone straight to the garage. His baby was there in all its shining glory. The teal exterior was spotless, and when he opened the driver’s-side door and slid into the seat, he almost purred as the soft white leather greeted him. It had been much too long since he’d put her on the open road and pushed her to her limits.
Today was the perfect afternoon to do so. After starting the engine and backing out, he drove slowly, letting her warm up, down the winding driveway of the big house. His fingers gripped the steering wheel casually as his gaze roamed over the land that had once belonged to Harmon Braddock.
Rolling hills formed the acres that made up the Braddock estate. There was a guesthouse down on the eastern side of the property; just beyond was the golf course. To the west were the pool and tennis courts. And just behind the house was the garden his mother cherished as much as her time with her charities.
That brought to mind his and Malcolm’s conversation with Evelyn Braddock a few hours earlier at the family estate.
“How are you dealing with everything?” Malcolm had asked.
“I’m holding up as well as can be expected,” Evelyn had answered.
“You’re a lot stronger than the rest of us,” Malcolm had said as he sat on the sofa in the family room.
“Every day I wake up I think I miss him more,” she’d said. “But he’s gone and I’m still here. I have to finish living my life.”
“We know,” Ty had chimed in. “And we want you to know that we’re here if on one of those mornings you feel a little too overwhelmed.”
She eyed him carefully. “I’m a Braddock. I don’t get overwhelmed. I cope.”
“We’re just offering our help, Mom. Just trying to let you know that you’re not alone. We’re coping, too,” Malcolm said.