Scarlett Bride (The Scarletts

by Brenda Barrett

  Ashaki looked down at the table and considered what to say. The truth was probably not too kind. If David didn't have this new spin on things she would have told him that she couldn't be with him anyway.

  "I like you, David. I had a crush on you when I just saw you at the mission, years ago, but for me it was just that. I am grateful for the role you played in getting me out of the Congo but I...I..."

  "You love Oliver. And you want to remain married to him. "

  Ashaki inhaled. "I was going to say, I don't think gratitude or obligation would have gotten us very far. It would make us unhappy very soon."

  "And then there is the Oliver factor," David said shrewdly. "You won't admit it but it's there. You light up when you are with him. You have to see it to be nauseated by it."

  Ashaki frowned. "I light up?"

  "Like an ostentatious Christmas tree." David raised his water glass. "I propose a toast. To your happiness, Ashaki."

  She picked up her glass and raised it too. "And to yours, David."

  ****

  Dinner went fairly well after that. David was unusually reserved with her but he offered to walk her home. They walked together in the balmy night; there was a barely felt squall of rain as they walked back. It stopped almost as soon as it started.

  The house loomed in front of them. It was in darkness. Maybe Oliver went out.

  "You promise to take care of yourself," David said when they stopped at the gate of the front of Villa Cruzar.

  "Yes, I will." Ashaki nodded. "I'll be fine, David."

  He looked at the house and then back at her in the half light. "I wanted us to be together, you know. I just..."

  He pulled her to him and kissed her fully on the lips.

  It was unexpected; before she could feel anything he let her go. "If you need me for anything at all, you call." He pointed at her. "Anytime, anywhere, I'll be there and this time no strings attached."

  Ashaki nodded and watched as he headed down the road. She'd never call him. She had a sneaky suspicion that David would only be a small byline in the general story of her life.

  That was the way it was meant to be. Her life should be with Oliver, but she had quite an uphill task to convince him of that.

  ****

  David went to the hotel and headed straight to the hammock on the patio. He swung in it for a while and looked into the blackness. What was a nice view in the day was now just darkness. He could hear the lap of the sea though, and there was a cool breeze that was very welcome in the night. He pulled his phone from his pants pocket and inhaled deeply before he dialed.

  Miranda answered, her voice surly. "What is it, David?"

  He inhaled and closed his eyes. He had lied to Ashaki earlier about Miranda calling him and asking him for a chance to work out their marriage.

  "David?" Miranda snapped. "What is it?"

  "I just called to talk. It’s long overdue," he finally answered.

  "I am not talking about the divorce on the phone," Miranda growled. "You are going to come home and face me like a man when your little infatuation has passed with that girl you are with in Jamaica. Do you think you can do that?

  “You can let her know, too, that I have no intention of signing divorce papers without you telling me why we are breaking up in the first place! If you fell in love with this girl you can unfall in love with her. I am sorry, hun, your commitment is with me and now Tyler."

  "There is no girl in Jamaica." David rubbed his hands over his face. He had already lied to Ashaki about reconciling with Miranda, saved himself the agony of her rejection and made himself look good in the process.

  He had done the right thing. That should soothe his hurting heart, but it didn't. He loved Ashaki, and he hadn't even been with her. They would have made a go of it if there were no Miranda or Oliver. He was convinced of that.

  "I will believe that there is no girl," Miranda said, "when you come back home to us."

  "I will," David sighed, "tomorrow."

  That silenced Miranda for a little. "What about her being the one, the love of your life?"

  "It was madness. Temporary madness. I'll be home tomorrow."

  "And you'll talk to Dad about working in his practice?"

  David inhaled; the noose was tightening around his neck. In the past this would be the beginning of a fight.

  Instead, he swallowed his hot retort and said meekly, "Yes, of course. Goodnight Miranda."

  She hung up and he sat with the phone cuddled to his chest and tears running down his cheeks.

  Chapter Seventeen

  Ashaki walked slowly upstairs after she entered the house. Oliver's car was in the garage so he hadn't gone far. She entered her room, threw her bag on the bed and opened the patio doors.

  She should feel happier. She didn't have the specter of David hanging over her head anymore but she wasn't feeling happy. She felt down. It was a similar feeling to when she was in Kidogo. A deep-seated disquiet, a bleak outlook for her future.

  Whenever she had felt that way in the past, her father had taken out his Bible, a medium-sized black thing with thick covers, one of the only things that had survived his escape from Kinshasa, and he would read it to her.

  "Don't worry, Ashaki," he'd say and then he would find the passage of hope, Psalm 23. His favorite text.

  And even though he knew it by heart he would put his finger there and start reciting. L'Éternel est mon Berger; je ne manquerai de rien...

  It sounded so much better in French. She turned on the lamp at the side of the bed and reached for the small chest with her father's Bible in it and pulled it out.

  She had never really touched it; she had a smaller, lighter English version. This was her dad's copy. His personal prized possession.

  She skipped through the pages of the book until she reached Psaume 23. She imagined that she saw his fingerprints on the pages and read it out loud and closed her eyes.

  She could understand why dwelling on the words would make such an impact on her dad. After the war he had no guide; the Lord had really been his shepherd. After losing his whole family except for her, he had really needed the reassurance. It was a Psalm for times of uncertainty and her life was uncertain right now.

  She closed her eyes and lay back on the bed. Very soon after that she heard the front door open and Oliver's tread on the stairs.

  She was curious to know where he had been. Maybe by the seaside, but he wouldn't have entered at the front.

  He rapped on her door. "Ashaki, can I come in?"

  "Yes." She twisted on the bed and looked at him. He was in the same clothes from earlier in the evening. He looked grim.

  "I have turned into a stalker." He sighed and pulled his hair. "You won't believe this but I followed you to Villa Ingles and I watched you eat with David and I followed you both home."

  "Why?" Ashaki opened her eyes wide. He was acting really strange for Oliver.

  "To make sure you that you'd come back." Oliver grimaced and pushed himself off the door. "For a little while there I lost my mind. When you left the house, I was acting pretty cool but I wasn't, not really.

  "You weren't?" Ashaki sat up straighter.

  "No, I wasn't." He came and sat on the bed. "I don't want to... but I do think of you as my wife. You were going to eat with another man, who has made his intentions toward you clear. I just...freaked out for a while."

  "So you do care." Ashaki rolled over to sit up and squashed the Bible under her leg.

  "Careful." Oliver took the Bible from the bed and held it in his hands. "It's in French?"

  "Yes." Ashaki nodded impatiently, wanting to get back to the conversation.

  Oliver opened the Bible. "Your father's?"

  "Yes," Ashaki said impatiently. "What were you saying before about..."

  "I was saying," Oliver looked at her solemnly, "that I was jealous seeing you kiss David."

  "He kissed me." Ashaki protested. "I don't know if I should be mad at you for spying or happy that you are jeal
ous."

  Oliver tugged one of her braids. "So what's next with you two?"

  "Nothing." Ashaki shook her head. "He is going to work things out with his wife."

  "Really?" Oliver raised an eyebrow. "I wonder why the change of heart? He was so adamant to be with you.

  "I don't know," Ashaki shrugged. "He said she called and they were going to patch things up."

  "Still weird how quickly he changed his mind." Oliver leaned in closer to her. They were nose to nose. "So that leaves you with just me."

  Ashaki swallowed. "Yes. How do you feel about that?"

  "I am torn." Oliver kissed her softly. "I want you. I really... really do."

  "You can have me," Ashaki murmured.

  "No," Oliver groaned in her neck. "I want real feelings, Ashaki. Not gratitude. Not a crush. Not obligation. And I definitely can't cloud issues with sex. I want a forever kind of love."

  Ashaki shivered. He was breathing in her neck and causing her whole body to shudder with it.

  "Oliver, what if I told you that I am not grateful? I don't have a crush nor do I feel any obligation to be with you."

  Oliver lifted up his head and touched her cheek. "I wouldn't believe you."

  "You are so frustrating," Ashaki growled. "I can't believe that I am actually the one begging you to... to..."

  "...make love to you." Oliver's eyes were limpid. "I am this close to giving in but..."

  "You need an incentive." Ashaki got up from the bed and started stripping. She pulled the dress over her head and stood in her bikini panties and sheer brassiere.

  "Come on, Ashaki," Oliver said. There was no fight left in his voice; he was staring at her transfixed. "This is not what should be happening, you are young and...and..."

  "Don't know my own mind and am a helpless refugee teenager." Ashaki walked toward him, still in her heels.

  Oliver got up suddenly from the bed. The Bible, which was in his lap, tumbled to the floor. The back cover hung from the rest of the book at an awkward angle.

  "You see what you made me do," Oliver said, stooping to pick up the Bible.

  Ashaki sighed. "It can be repaired."

  Oliver shook it. "There is something in the back of the cover. See how it looks crooked?"

  "What?" Ashaki took it from him, forgetting that she was half naked and hell-bent on seduction.

  She shook the cover and out dropped what seemed like dozens of shiny pebbles the size of tiny marbles. Some were pink, some were white and some had a very clear hue.

  "Diamonds," Oliver was the first one to whisper.

  Ashaki took one up and turned it over in her hand. "I have never seen one close up before."

  Oliver picked up the Bible and shook it. "The first cover was lopsided too."

  He sat down and watched as Ashaki poured them out in one of her perfume boxes. "I can't believe it."

  "Me neither," Ashaki chuckled after she closed the box and put it on the bedside table.

  She sat beside him. "My dad said he had diamonds buried in the hut. He was a clever, clever man."

  Oliver looked at her and raised an eyebrow. Their arms were touching; she was afraid to move hers. "Do you know what this means?"

  "Yes." Ashaki smiled. "This means I can call the shots as I please in my life, this means that you cannot say I want to be with you because I am grateful."

  "That's what I have really wanted for you." He turned to her and cupped her chin. "But you are still only eighteen and up till now you have had no real freedom. I am generous enough to understand this."

  "But I will be nineteen in two weeks," Ashaki said, a stubborn set to her chin, "and you asked me what I want for my birthday a couple of days ago. I want for us to be really married to each other, Oliver Scarlett. I love you."

  Her lips trembled.

  Oliver looked at her for an interminably, achingly long time.

  "Well then," Oliver's voice got husky, "I guess I should tell you that I love you too, deeply. I am entrusting you with myself, Ashaki."

  He brushed her cheek with his hand lightly. "I want to spend the rest of my life with you. And I am very thankful that we ended up here at this place, together."

  Oliver leaned in for a kiss on her forehead. "Get some sleep."

  "But..." Ashaki watched as he walked out of the room. She flung a pillow at the door when he closed it.

  ****

  Ashaki woke up at ten the next morning. It was much later than she normally got up, so she hadn't been able to see Oliver off. She padded to the kitchen and there was a note stuck on the fridge: Morning Ashaki, will be finalizing sale on house today. My mom will be here next week. Can you call me when you get up?

  Ashaki sighed. Hearing that Honey Allen was going to show up was not the best news. She called Oliver.

  "I am still half sleepy," she mumbled when he answered the phone.

  "I can hear that." Oliver sounded almost as sleepy as she did.

  "You okay?" Ashaki asked, feeling a teensy bit awkward with him. She had practically thrown herself at him last night and he had said no, but he had also told her that he loved her. The warmth spread through her. She hadn't dreamt it.

  "I am okay." Oliver cleared his throat. "Got the message about my mom?"

  "Oh yes." Ashaki chuckled. "How long will she be around?"

  "Three days. She is coming for a wedding. I told Noah about your diamonds. He said he'll have somebody from his stepfather's company appraise them for you."

  "Thanks." Ashaki popped a cashew nut from the nut jar on the counter into her mouth.

  "What are your plans for the day?" Oliver asked.

  "I might visit your aunt and uncle," Ashaki said breezily, "or I...don't know, swim, read a novel."

  "What about go dress shopping with Faith? If we are going to do a real wedding, you are going to require a wedding dress."

  "Yes!" Ashaki squealed. "Great idea."

  "Yes, I thought so... Ashaki..." Oliver said huskily and then paused for the longest time. He had her holding her breath.

  "See you at home," he finally said. "I have to go ring shopping. I have this lady I have to propose to properly."

  "Oh yes." Ashaki could barely contain herself over the phone. "Yes!"

  Oliver chuckled. "And even though I know the answer, I am still going to ask."

  ****

  And he did; he got down on his knee in the sand, with the last rays of the evening sun behind them, later that evening.

  Two weeks later, on Ashaki's birthday, the whole Scarlett family attended the informal wedding at the beach. Slater and Reuben Scarlett sang. Troy Scarlett officiated and Noah Scarlett read a thoughtful poem.

  Lisa Scarlett was busy behind the camera, capturing her first real wedding.

  And after the festivities were over and they were finally alone in their newly furnished house, Oliver Scarlet unwrapped his Scarlett bride for the first time and they pledged their love to each other, forever.

  The End

  Author's Notes

  Dear Reader,

  THANK YOU for reading Scarlett Bride! The sixth book in the Scarlett Series. I really hope you enjoyed it. The final installment in the Scarlett Series is SCARLETT HEART, an excerpt is below.

  Thanks again. All the best,

  Brenda

  Here is an excerpt from

  SCARLETT HEART

  Who spent New Years Eve in their study hunched over a pile of research while everyone was out partying?

  He did. He was the only one on the planet with a new heart and a fresh start who was probably not giddily excited to see another year begin. Instead he was obsessing over his heart donor and the lack of information on him.

  His phone buzzed for the hundredth time and he glanced at it. It was a new years message wishing him the best. This one was from his brother Oliver. He picked up the phone and looked at the grinning profile picture of Oliver and his wife, Ashaki. They had two ridiculous hats on their heads as they made faces at the camera. They were at some family
party—he saw some other familiar faces in the background.

  Come and join us Noah, at least for tomorrow, family get together at Uncle Lloyd's. He read the end of the message and smiled. He wasn't feeling much like a family get together with the million and one relatives he recently found out that he had. He knew Oliver loved that kind of thing because he grew up practically alone with his mother but Noah was the opposite. His mother had a huge boisterous family, and they were also having a party right now a little distance away in St. Ann's Bay. His mother had pleaded with him to attend that party earlier.

  But here he was.

  He quickly typed in: Happy New Year to you both, have fun. He put some party emojis at the end of the sentence to take away any intended sting his one liner might cause and then put the phone away again.

  He turned to his laptop once more and typed in the name Dean Long. They were two simple common names. The results that came up once more was quite disappointing. There was a long list of Dean Long's none from Jamaica, none of them 30 years old, and none of them a freelance journalist.

  He would have to hire a private investigator to get to the bottom of this or maybe not. This obsession was now dogging his footsteps for weeks.

  He was obsessed with knowing more about Dean Long, his heart donor. Who was he? Why did he like the things he liked? How did he die? Who were the people in his life?

  It was time to put away the obsession and live in the here and now, but that was proving to be difficult. His mother had told him just that a few hours ago when she called to report what a lovely time she was having with her new fiance at the family bash.

  He swiped his hands over his eyes and then got up and stretched. He paced from one end of the ornate study to the other until he couldn't take it anymore. He opened the patio doors and let in the cool air from outside.