Chapter Fifteen
It had taken me the entire two hour drive from St Augustine to Gainesville to build up not only the courage, but the right words to say to Leïla in my effort to convey to her that yes, I was very much in love with her, but that I was in love with another woman as well. And now that I was actually ready to level with her she would have to go and decide that this was a good time to express what was on her mind instead. Not wanting to press the issue, I let her go first. Music played softly in the background. It was her favorite romantic CD.
“Marcus,” she began, her eyes growing misty. “Before you tell me what’s on your mind I’d like to say that these past few days have been the happiest days of my life. And the fact that you are about to leave me again is breaking me up inside. It’s like I am losing you all over again.
Continuing to bare her heart, she added, “You see, the day I saw you approaching your car I actually froze in place. I was witnessing the miracle I had been praying for ever since I left St Thomas. What I am saying is that there wasn’t a night that passed that I failed to pray for your safe return to me. I wanted to know happiness again and experience joy.
“God, now that you have returned to me I feel so fortunate to have a man like you, one devoted and so in love with me. You really know how to make a gal feel special.
“For all it is worth, babe, I just wanted to tell you that no greater love exists on this planet than the love I have for you Marcus.”
Leïla’s words touched me deeply and in such a way that I found myself gazing into the far distance, my face a mask of guilt, hurt, and pain. How did I let things get this far, I asked myself. How did I make this wrong turn? God, how was I going to unchanged the things I had done? Jill Scott’s moving song Comes to the Light mirrored my situation lyrically and in an uncanny way. It was all so eerie…everything that had happened to me. I even wondered if I still had a conscience. More importantly, I knew that in time everything comes to the light. Just the same, the price I would have to pay I felt I had coming. If only I could make things the way they were only then would the healing began I told myself.
Anyway, after Leïla’s riveting and emotional statement there was no way I could tell her what was truly on my mind at this time. And I wanted so badly to get this 800 pound gorilla off of my back but she was making it hard for me to do so.
Reaching over I pulled her gently into my loving embrace, tears welling up in my eyes. I swallowed hard. It was my turn to speak now.
“Leïla, I just wanted to say that life for me has been a living hell since you vanished from my world that day. I tried several times to find you and failed on all counts. Worse of all, I did not know if I’d ever see you again. Then, when I least expected a miracle, there it was, standing right there in front of me. That miracle was you Leïla. It was you.”
Still nestled in my embrace, Leïla sobbed softly against my heaving chest.
“I can’t tell you how surprised I was, but also how happy I was, to see you standing there in that parking lot and in the flesh,” I said, my voice choking up. “I cannot pretend that I am not hurting and deeply. Trust me Leïla; leaving you behind to return to Ft Lauderdale is not at all easy for me to do. Right now, I am all torn up inside.”
When she looked up at me her eyes were wet with tears, her red lips parted as if she was about to say something. But she never got a chance to as my mouth came crashing down on hers. I kissed her passionately, our salty tears mingling as they streamed down our faces.
Breaking away I told her that I had better get going. Although she said she understood I could see that she was deeply saddened that I had to leave. We agreed to meet at my hotel at three o’clock sharp. At that time she would follow me in her car to the Gainesville Regional Airport. Hanging loosely onto my arm she escorted me to the door where we hugged and kissed one last time before I departed.
Three o’clock that afternoon I found Leïla sitting in the lobby waiting on me to check out. We greeted one another but neither one of us was smiling or feeling the least jovial. After I loaded my luggage and other effects into the rental, we started up our cars and took off. Once at the airport, I checked in my rental. Because we arrived at the airport early, this afforded us time together before my flight was to be called. Taking advantage of this time, Leïla and I walked hand in hand around the concourse. We stopped by a snack bar and grabbed a cold drink. Behind the counter hung a large mirror; our reverse images gazing back at us. We were still wearing our matching T-shirts and slacks. That seemed to please her for she had made an endearing comment minutes earlier about how great we looked together as a couple.
Whatever pleased her pleased me.
“When are we going to see one another again?” she asked, sipping at her drink.
“Not soon enough for me,” I quipped. “But realistically, in a week or two.”
“Oh, that’s way too long, baby,” she protested mildly. “Can’t you get back here before then?”
“I’ll try my best to,” I assured her.
“Promise me you will.”
“I promise.”
“I have to tell you that outside of the time we spent together on the island, I have had the most wonderful time of my life here with you Marcus,” she said and in one breath.
“And so have I,” I said, after clearing my throat.
“You have my number, right?” she asked.
“Right here in my pocket,” I said withdrawing it partially for her to see.
“And you have mine, of course?”
“I’ve already memorized it,” she said with those sparkling eyes of hers.
“Look, Leïla,” I began. “Take it easy on your father. I’m sure he was only trying to protect you. I thought about this a lot and as far as I am concerned, I hold no ill feelings towards him.”
“I appreciate that Marcus,” she said taking my hand into hers. “But I am still going to take him to task for what he said and whatever he did to keep you away from me.”
I smiled. We talked for another twenty-five minutes before my flight was called out over the intercom system. Walking hand in hand back to the terminal we hugged and kissed like there was no tomorrow. A few people watched on as though this was some magnificent Hollywood ending.
“I love you Leïla,” I said breaking away and reluctantly.
“I love you even more, Marcus,” she declared wearing a brave smile. “Call me tonight to let me know you arrived safely, okay.”
“I will,” I promised. As I backed away from her she waved and blew me a kiss. I blew one back at her, turned, and proceeded to the boarding area with a heavy heart. The sadness in her eyes would stay on my mind for a long time.
Once the shuttle plane took flight I made myself comfortable and closed my eyes. Visions of Leïla’s sadden gaze continued to haunt me the remainder of the flight.
Tina was there to greet me at the Ft Lauderdale/Hollywood International Airport when I arrived in the baggage area. Soigné is how I would describe her. Absolute elegance and grace! I did not deserve two angels. But there she stood, one of two blessings that had come my way.
She was wearing a tiered floral dress with white lace tiers just below the neckline and at the bottom hemline. In between the laced tiers was a fuchsia-styled print, in this case two-toned purple roses with silver stems on a white background. Her jet black hair was worn shoulder length. She looked stunning, her dark Latin eyes gleaming like miniature diamonds. I put on a brave smile and moved towards her. Inside I felt tormented.
Dashing spiritedly towards me, she reached for me with outstretched arms. Bracing myself, I took her by the waist with both hands and I swooped her up into the air and quickly spun her around. Sliding down into my embrace she kissed me long and hard and to the point my head began to spin.
“Oh how I missed you Marcus,” she exhaled, her chest heaving wildly. “You miss me?”
“I did and very much,” I came back with a delightful smile, but feeling like a heel inside.
“Just a little.”
“Don’t worry, babe. We’ll pick up something along the way…my treat.”
“That sounds like a good idea to me,” I said trying my best to sound excited.
“I like your top,” she said giving it the going over. “St Augustine, huh.”
“Yeah, I decided I owed it to myself to relax a little, especially after I closed on the property,” I replied as Leïla’s lovely image appeared out of nowhere in my head.
“Isn’t that quite a distance from Gainesville?” she asked.
“Yes. But Gainesville is a college town as you know. St Augustine is a tourist town. So I opted for the tourist town.”
“That’s fine with me,” she chuckled lightly. “Just as long as I was on your mind, and I’m talking every other minute of the hour. Anyway, what do you say we go and get the rest of your luggage and get out of here before we run into heavy traffic, honey?”
“That sounds like a plan to me,” I said looking into Tina’s loving face wondering how she would react if she knew that I had just spent the past few days in the arms of another woman, a woman I was in love with as much as I was in love with her.
Grabbing my luggage we headed outside into the night and over to the towering parking garage where Tina had parked her car.
As she had promised we stopped off at a franchised restaurant along the way and ate. I really didn’t have much of an appetite so I ordered a salad. Tina didn’t say anything though she probably attributed my lack of an appetite to being tired. Wanting to take her focus off of me, I took a moment to trot out to the car. When I returned I handed her the gift I had bought for her in Gainesville. She opened the gift wrapped box and broke into a smile that stretched from one corner of her mouth to the other. She loved the bracelets and told me so. Reaching over she planted a kiss on my lips and thanked me.
When we returned to my place she ran me a relaxing bubble bath, one we shared together. We took turns rubbing one another’s back and front and places in between. As she ran her soapy hands over my body I marveled at her in silence, coming to life when she drew close to kiss me. Before long we were making love, right there inside of my oval tub. It was the second time that day I had shared a warm bubble bath in two different cities and in the arms of two lovely goddesses. God, I felt lower than the lowest rodent on the planet. The inner turmoil I felt seemed to multiply each time I interacted with Tina and Leïla. I was tired of being on pins and needles around them. I knew I had to get some advice, counseling, religion or something and soon before I lost my mind.
Thankfully, I had someone I could turn to. My wise uncle had always been there for me in times of trouble. If ever I needed his wisdom and advice it was now for I was not just in trouble, I was waist deep in trouble. As in past times, I planned on summoning him to my rescue. This call, or cry for help, would top my agenda first thing tomorrow morning.
An hour ahead of rush hour traffic, I arrived at work in time to see the morning sunrise. I had not slept well the night before. Too much on my mind and none of it was work related. Placing the cup of Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee to my lips, I gazed out the window. The panoramic view from my office was spectacular. It quickly reminded me of Leïla when we practiced my martial arts on Anastasia Beach in St Augustine. That memory hit me like a left field fly ball gone errant. I had completely forgotten to call Leïla once I arrived back in Ft Lauderdale the night before.
Rounding my desk I pulled out her number, sat down, and called her. Her pleasant and reassuring tone calmed my nerves. We talked, though briefly. She said she had figured that I was tired and had turned in early. My omission had been forgiven, and thankfully, I noted.
After an hour of paperwork and talking to my assistant, I asked her to hold all calls and inquiries to me for the next hour. Closing my office door, I sat at my desk. Withdrawing my smartphone from my pocket, I tapped the speed dial number assigned to my uncle’s personal phone then I leaned back easy in my leather chair. For the next twenty minutes my uncle listened and intently, not saying a word, as I brought him up to speed on my unique love life and the precarious situation I found myself in. Finally, he spoke.
“This is truly a unique situation, nephew,” he said empathetically. “I’ve seen Leïla once at the fashion show and she appears to be a wonderful young lady and the two of you seemed perfect as a couple, from what you have told me over time. But then I’ve met Tina and she appears to be just as perfect for you. The two of you seem to have great chemistry between you.
“This is a tough one, I have to say,” he murmured. Though we were miles apart, I could envision him shaking his head on this one. “You will no doubt have to tell both Leïla and Tina about your situation and long before they find out in some other way,” he continued. “But at the same time, nephew, don’t beat up on yourself. You were thrust into this situation by forces outside of your influence and control. I’m talking forces the likes I have never seen and never want to see.”
“I imagine you never found yourself in a situation where you had to deal with two women in the same space, at the same time, and both you felt some special for,” I rattled off wishing my uncle could provide me greater insight on such a scenario.
“Actually, before your aunt and I married, and just before we started seriously dating, I took a friend out to lunch. Her name was Vanessa. She was an aspiring entrepreneur who owned a Vanity Boutique Shoppe business in Tampa. Well, the restaurant we wanted to dine at had a long line, as well as a long wait. So I asked her if she had another preference. To my complete surprise she said Café Le Soir, which was the restaurant your aunt was working at, at the time.
“Anyway, your aunt and I were not speaking on a regular basis, at that time, though there was still something special between us. With great trepidation I drove over there with Vanessa and prepared myself for whatever was to come.”
“And Aunt Yvette saw you two,” I injected.
“She eventually came down from her office and saw me with Vanessa, yes,” he confirmed. “I made like I had to go to the men’s room and along the way spoke with your aunt, who was obviously a little jealous. But it wasn’t all that bad of a scene, not at all.”
“Was Aunt Yvette seeing someone else at the time?”
“Yes, and that’s why she didn’t have much to say about my date.”
“Were you ever serious about Vanessa?”
“No, but she seemed to be about me.”
“I see,” I muttered into the phone.
“Anyway, nephew,” he continued. “You have a difficult task on your hand. Remember, you’re dealing with people’s emotions, as well as your own. Tread carefully, Marcus. Tread carefully.”
“Thank you, uncle,” I said. “I will. Thanks. Love to you and Aunt Yvette.”
“Love you too, nephew.”
I ended our call and returned to work. I had a few things to do before I was scheduled to meet Tina for lunch in a couple of hours.
As I had promised, I picked up Tina at her place and we drove to Bahia Cabana Patio Bar & Restaurant off of Harbor Drive. It advertised itself as a world famous waterfront patio bar & restaurant. The restaurant overlooked Fort Lauderdale's largest marina. Aside from its scenic location, the restaurant provided free valet parking and boat dockage for restaurant patrons as well.
We ordered our food then leaned back and looked about. The place had a Caribbean flair about it. Some of their drinks were served in pineapple shaped glasses. The music playing in the background had a tropical theme to it, which added to the tropical atmosphere they had created. Some of the tunes had a Latin rhythm to them; some had more of a reggae beat to them.
“You mentioned in the car that you spoke to your uncle,” Tina said, her animated eyes beaming with curiosity. “Everything all right?”
“Yeah,” I lied. “I just had to make sure we were on the same
page on a certain matter.”
“Were you?”
“We were,” I said being truthful for once.
“You and your uncle seem to be very close, huh.”
“Yep, we certainly are.”
“How did you two become so close, if I may ask?”
“Sure, I’ll tell you,” I said, always happy to talk about my wonderful uncle. “When my parents divorced my uncle took a greater interest in me. Then when my mother passed away a week after my seventeenth birthday he took me in until I was old enough to find work. He had offered me a job at one of his restaurants from the onset but I wanted to do things on my own.”
“I can understand that,” she said placing her warm hand on top of mine. “You just wanted to make it on your own and that’s commendable.”
“Yes, that’s exactly what I wanted to do,” I threw in. “Anyway, a few years later, after growing up a lot more, I decided that I wanted to attend college. In conversation with my uncle I mentioned that and he offered to pay my way if I’d come and work for him. I didn’t have to think twice about it.”
“So, you took him up on his offer,” she said, stroking the top of my hand.
“Damn right I did,” I declared. “And I never looked back and never had any regrets about it.”
“I’m glad that you did,” she said staring into my eyes. “You see, if you hadn’t, we probably would have never met and this conversation would have never occurred.”
“You’re quite right,” I replied thoughtfully.
By this time our food and drinks had arrived.
“You’re working the late shift again tonight, huh?” I asked.
“Yeah,” she groaned, seemingly not pleased with her schedule. “One of the assistant managers was forced to resign. So I am filling in temporarily.”
“What happened?” I asked curiously.
“He made all of the wrong decisions, I imagine. His name is Jason. Now, understand that this was a married man, but in less than five months, was carrying on a not so secret affair with one of the new waitresses at the Shack. It all came to a head a few days ago when the two got into an argument after their shift ended that spilled into the business and that was a definite no-no. Earlier that same evening his wife had stopped by the restaurant and the three of them got into it.”
Island Love Page 16