You idiot, it could have been such a lovely morning. Nice going, Captain Big Mouth…she thought as she headed for the door, threw the deadbolt, and opened it. Her mouth flew open in shock, then snapped shut. Oh Jesus, this ALL I need right now…she thought as she frowned and said, “Max? What are you doing here? What do you want? And this early in the morning to boot?”
He titled his head, his eyes roving over her body. “My my, aren’t we testy this morning?” he said, flashing her a million dollar smile. “I remember a time, my love, when I was married to you, that you never got out of bed unhappy.” he teased, placing emphasis on the word “bed.”
Without waiting for an invitation he stepped inside, causing her to step back in order to avoid rubbing against him. Pulling one arm from behind his back, he handed her a bouquet of pink stargazer lilies and a small black box. “I simply came to congratulate you on the award, I’m very proud of you.” He gave her a smile that made his handsome face take on an innocent, boyish look, but she knew better than to fall for his well-practiced charm. His smile faltered when she casually tossed the flowers and box onto the couch, and returned his look impassively. Clearing his throat, he said, “There are things we still need to discuss, you and I.”
Still stinging from Connell’s earlier rejection, she was growing more agitated by the minute, and was in no mood to deal with him at the moment. Crossing her arms under her full breasts, she said, “Max, I don’t have time for this. I have to get ready to take the noon flight back home.”
Frowning, he shook his head, sighed, and gave her the look of a sad, patient uncle. “I can’t believe you’re doing this. You have done your duty, it’s time you left that place, and left them. Aisha, my love, you may not believe this, but I was heartbroken when your friend Jenny passed away, I adored her, always did. But she’s gone now, and her husband and children are back on their feet and doing fine, from what I’ve managed to learn. Your responsibility is at an end.”
“Well believe it, she IS going back, with ME.”
They both turned to see Connell standing just outside the living room door, arms by his side, fists clinching and unclenching. It looked as if he had just stepped out of the shower, his hair was wet and slicked back, and he had dressed in tight black Levis, a crisp white shirt, and hiking boots.
Aisha thought she could see his jaw ticking as he stared directly at her ex-husband. Glancing at Max she suddenly became alarmed. He was returning Connell’s glare with equal distaste, and he was no small man himself, not quite as large as his antagonist, but he had been well trained in hand-to-hand combat.
Before she could speak, Max finally tore his angry gaze away from him and back to her, “We need to talk. Surely you can cease your dallying long enough to talk to your husband.”
It was her turn to glare, as the female ancestors inside told her to set him straight. She put one hand on her hip, and wagged her finger at him as her neck moved in a way that would have made Linda Blair wince. “Oh. Hell. NO. You DIDN‘T. First, you bring your ass here in the A.M, accusing me of “dallying?” YOU, Mister My Shit Doesn’t Stink Sr., are my EX- husband! We stopped having things to discuss the moment you fucked that low pro ho, then asked her to marry you. Your tired ass didn’t even have the guts to tell me face to face until after you had notified me by fucking email! Now you best get out of here before I forget you’re a child of God, my LOVE!“
Eyes widening in disbelief, Max was shocked. She had never talked to him that way, even after he had left. Looking away, he glared once more at his rival, the man who was stealing the woman he still loved away from him. He wanted desperately to share the news with her, that she could indeed have children, but he would wait until he had her back. “When you tire of this…this uncouth buffoon..“ he said, pointing at Connell, “call me. But don’t make me come to you.” Turning on his heel he stomped out the door, slamming it shut behind him so hard it shook the walls.
She turned and looked at Connell, wanting to say something, but not sure exactly what.
He stared at her for a moment, then took a deep breath and went back in the bedroom, slamming the door.
This is a fairly crummy way to start the day. It’s not even seven in the morning and already I’ve had three doors slammed in my face…she thought.
Bending over wearily, she grabbed the flowers up off the couch, stared at the tiny present, then picked it up. She went into the kitchen, placed the flowers in a vase, sat down, and opened the present. It was a gold Versace necklace with a v-line pendent, with a diamond.
Damn you Max! Why?… she wondered as she lowered her head to the table.
**************************************
The flight home was a nightmare for Aisha, everything seemed to bother her. From the screaming child two rows behind her, to the man sitting in front of them who had no shame about passing gas and actually laughing to himself every time he did it. But what bothered her the most was that Connell barely acknowledged her presence, only speaking when it was absolutely necessary. He spent most of the final two hours of the trip chatting amiably with a cute, black college co-ed from Radford University, who was seated directly opposite. She had to fight the urge to dump her drink on the pretty giggling co-ed, the little ditz laughed at everything he said. She knew he wasn’t that funny, she would know, she lived with him. Hell, he didn’t even tell jokes, so what the hell was so cute? She refused to let the big green monster rear it’s ugly head in front of him though, so she pretended to be asleep instead.
Connell struggled the entire time to do his best to focus on what the young woman, whose name was Sharon, was saying to him. She seemed nice enough, and he wasn’t so blind he didn’t know she was flirting with him, but it was a way to pass the time without his every thought being consumed by the woman feigning sleep next to him.
When the plane finally landed and everyone unbuckled their seatbelts and stood, the young woman pressed a card in his hand, telling him if he ever got down her way to give her a call. “Maybe we could go out for a drink, or something.“ she finished.
Aisha ground her teeth silently, knowing exactly what that “something” would entail, a piece of tail.
The young woman reached into the overhead compartment, grabbed a small bag, and hesitated, looking at Connell one more time. “Even if you don’t get down my way, call me or email me sometime. I sure would like some fitness tips from you, I don’t think I’ve never seen nobody as big and fit as you, not even the football players.” she finished, staring at him with unmistakable lust.
“I don’t think I’ve NEVER seen NOBODY as big and fit as you” Aisha thought sourly, I know how THIS genius gets the good grades she was bragging about!
Fishing around in his pocket, the big lummox asked, “Uh, I didn’t notice, is your email address on your card?“
The girl stepped forward and actually reached into his back pocket where she had saw him place it earlier, pulled it out, handed it to him, and pointed.
Jealousy surged through Aisha like a bolt of lightning, the intensity astonishing her and frightening her at the same time. She found herself wanting to snatch the girl’s hair out by the roots and claw her eyes out. Enraged, and no longer caring if she showed her ass, she snatched her overnight and camera bags from the overhead compartment, barely missing both their heads. Not waiting for him to get his things, she stalked off without looking back.
Stomping up the exit ramp on the way to retrieve her luggage, she was startled when a viselike grip on her arm halted her movement, causing her to nearly stumble backwards. If not for Connell’s hard body, she would have landed on her ass.
Noticing the strange looks they were getting, he pulled her out of the flow of foot traffic to a quiet corner. “Are you planning on acting childish the entire drive home?”
She glared at him and tried to pull away from his grasp, but he wouldn’t let go, holding on to her as if afraid she would bolt on him. “Don‘t make a scene, let me go. Let‘s get our things and get the hell out of th
is madhouse!” she hissed.
Reluctantly, he released his grip.
As they headed towards the baggage claim area she mumbled, “I’m going to the gift shop.” She knew the ride home would be long, and tense, so decide to get something to read.
He followed her, and while she browsed the assortment of books and magazines, he walked around looking at the assortment of overpriced knick-knacks the store had to offer, and then something caught his eye. Smiling to himself, he picked it up furtively, glanced in her direction, then went to the cashier and paid for the item.
Aisha read a few book covers, found a romance novel that was thick enough to keep her occupied for the long drive home, paid for it, and left.
They both got their bags from baggage claim, and headed to where they had parked her Explorer. “You mind driving? I found something to read on the way home.“ she mumbled, hating to ask, but in no mood for interstate traffic.
“Sure.“ Connell said, and she handed him the keys.
As soon as they were seated and buckled up she opened the book and began reading.
Pulling out, Connell paid for the parking, found the interstate entrance, and merged with the traffic, driving in silence.
An hour later, after reading her third love scene, Aisha snapped the book closed. Tossing it in the backseat, she squirmed uncomfortably. The last erotic scene she had read had really got her hot and bothered, and belatedly, she thought reading a romance novel may not have been the best idea after the morning she had had
“Book any good?” Connell asked, tired of the silence.
Shrugging, she looked out the window, and surprised herself by blurting, “Why did you stop this morning?“
“What do you mean?” he replied.
“You know what I’m talking about. I wanted to, again.” she said softly, still staring out the window at the passing scenery. Oh Lord, I AM sounding like a clingy woman…she thought to herself.
He glanced over at her, took a deep breath and said, “ I was angry and hurt, I felt I needed to make a point, but what I did was wrong, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have done that.“
Aisha smiled, and even though she knew the entire mess was mostly her fault, the apology did make her feel better. “I accept your apology. So, are you going to visit your little perky little co-ed any time soon?”
AHHH! She IS jealous, I knew it! he thought privately, then said, “No, I threw the card away.”
Though she was secretly pleased, she feigned non-chalance and said, ”Oh, well maybe you should have kept it, I’m sure she would be fun and a great companion, judging from the way you couldn’t stop grinning at her.”
Glancing in the rearview mirror Connell switched lanes and replied, “I don’t want or need her companionship, I was just being polite. Now that we have that out of the way, what’s going on with Max?”
She looked at him curiously for a moment before it dawned on her that Jenny may have never told him about the reason for the breakup up of her marriage. That was during the time she and Connell had rarely acknowledged the existence of one another. “Well, I guess he’s decided he wants to give me a second chance.” she said, looking back out the window and chuckling at her own joke.
Connell, however, didn’t see anything amusing about it, and remained silent.
Knowing he wanted to know everything, she sighed. “To make a long, nasty story very short, when we found out that I couldn’t have children, he went and found himself someone who could give him a son. Or daughter. Anyway, she got knocked up, got him, and I got the divorced papers.”
Although his face showed no trace of emotion, inside Connell was outraged. He had never liked the man, had taken an instant dislike to him the first time they had ever met, and now he understood why. “You mean that bastard left you just because you couldn’t have his child?” he said, more of a statement than a question.
Closing her eyes, she tried to block out the painful memories, but they came flooding back : Max explaining to her that his doctor had informed him that he wasn’t the problem. Max being so understanding, assuring her it didn’t matter, that they could adopt. Her telling him she was going to see a fertility specialist, and getting her Dear Jane email before she had had a chance to see the doctor. Her so heartbroken she had never kept her appointment…moping around the condo instead, crying for days, trying in vain to call him and ask him why.
“Aisha?” Connell prodded in a quiet voice.
Opening her eyes, she spoke in a dull voice. “Yes, he left, and a part of me never blamed him for that. It hurt me, but I could understand. I always knew having a family was important to him. I figured, why should he be stuck with a wife that can’t have his child? Oh well, I guess my infertility can be a blessing at times too. I mean, you and I didn’t use any protection, so there’s no way you could have gotten me pregnant. And don’t worry, after I found out about Max’s affair, I had myself tested for every kind of STD I could think, I’m clean. And since him, I haven’t been with anyone but you.”
Connell looked at her in stunned silence. He found it hard to believe that such a beautiful woman had been by herself for so long, but he believed she was telling the truth. It humbled him to think she chose him, of all people, to share intimacy with after so long. He was also shocked to realize that the thought of her getting pregnant had never occurred to him before he found out she couldn’t. It was a testament, at least in his own mind at the moment, of how deeply he cared for her, because he knew it wouldn’t have mattered to him even if she had conceived. “Aisha, I wish I knew what to say, I never knew all that. I’m so sorry you had to go through that.” he said, then reached for her hand.
But she didn’t answer, just sat staring out the window, then let the seat back, closed her eyes, and went to sleep.
He was alone with his own thoughts for the remainder of the trip home.
******************************************************
Jonus smiled and greeted Aisha and Connell as they stepped through the door.
Throwing him a quick wave, Aisha ran off to the bathroom.
“Hey Jonus, how did things go?” Connell asked as he set their bags down.
“Well, most everything went well. I got the place cleaned up just in time. The wild party I threw.” he replied, but laughed nervously.
It was apparent something was troubling him, and Connell gave him a questioning look.
“The day you guys left I discovered someone had cut the fence on the south side. I checked the barns and didn’t find anything missing, Ben helped me repair the fence. But last night Thelma and Louie started barking up a storm. I checked around the barns and found nothing, then came up here to check the house, same thing. Then this morning I found your new calf dead, looks like about four, maybe five dogs, judging from the tracks, tore into it. Sorry.” he apologized, feeling he had let Connell down. “Uhmm, you can take it out of my pay if you feel there’s something I could have done to prevent it.”
Connell nodded, his brow wrinkled in thought and a grim look on his face. “Not your fault, let me change out of these clothes. I’ll grab two rifles, we can go see if we can find them. And I need to report it too, so I can write off the loss at the end of the year.” he said, then picked his bags up and trudged upstairs.
Aisha came back down, smiled at him, and said, “Sorry if my greeting seemed a little rude, I was holding my water for the last hour of the trip.” She bent down and picked two bags up off the floor and handed them to him. “These are for you, for being so sweet and watching the place.”
He opened the first and pulled out a heavy cream-colored cable sweater. He was touched by her kindness, not just because of the gift, but because from day one she had treated him like family, and she never judged him. “You didn’t have to do this, thank you.” he said. For the first time since he had been there he gave her a smile that went all the way up to his beautiful clear blue eyes, a smile that made his handsome face breathtaking.
He opened the
second bag. It was a framed photo of him, leaning against one of the fences, gazing out across one of the fields, the look on his face far away and haunted. “When did you take this? This is great. I’ve never had a decent picture taken of me, by anyone.” he said, giving her a hug to show his appreciation.
“I snapped it one day while I was out for my morning walk. I had a friend frame it for me.” she explained to him.
Looking back down at it, he said, “I’ll be right back, I want to hang this up in my place.”
Turning to head upstairs, she stopped as she saw Connell standing there decked out once more in his work clothes and holding two rifles.
“I’ll explain later.” he said when he saw the look on her face. “I take it he liked your presents.”
She nodded. “I’ll call you when dinners ready, and be careful, whatever it is you two are going to do. I heard Jonus talking about the calf, just as I came out of the bathroom.”
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