Kiss & Cry, Where Passion Awaits

by Lipson, Ramona

  The next morning Judge Winston said, “Let's continue with closing arguments. Prosecutor-”

  The prosecutor stood up next to Dhalia before the judge could utter his full name. He started pacing, making eye contact with each of the jurors. “Ms. Kennedy did not consent to having her cheek almost broken, being given a black eye, and forced to have sexual relations, including oral. You can clearly see her struggling, trying to get away from the defendant on tape. He gags her, for God's sake!

  “What she did before all of this heinousness took place is completely irrelevant. No woman asks for this kind of brutality, causes it nor does she deserve it. Ladies and gentlemen, you may have daughters, wives, granddaughters, nieces, sisters. Think of any one of them when you render your verdict. When you tell men like Mr. Hotman this type of behavior is not acceptable, you give a voice to any female who has been or will be brutalized, as Ms. Kennedy was by the defendant. Thank you.”

  “Defense.”

  Defense also paced and looked at the jurors for dramatic effect. “Ms. Kennedy and Mr. Hotman were in a relationship at the time of this unfortunate incident. Ms. Kennedy clearly admitted she was unfaithful to Mr. Hotman and it was evident she suffered no remorse over her indiscretion. She was also aware she could be videotaped at any time and she still continued to carry on with Mr. Kennedy thereby provoking my client's anger in this single, isolated incident.

  “I agree that no woman ever asks for that kind of brutality and forced sex, but Ms. Kennedy is no martyr for meek and mute women. No, she clearly pushed Mr. Hotman's buttons until he had no other choice than to act uncharacteristically. I would also like to remind the jury, that under oath in the police interview, she said that relations on the day in question between Mr. Hotman and Ms. Kennedy were of a consensual nature.

  “My client is exceedingly remorseful for what he did, but putting him in jail will not benefit society as much as putting him to work in our community will. Let him do his penance on the outside, should he be found guilty, that is. Thank you.”

  After instructions were given, Judge Winston dismissed the jurors to deliberate. Both sides sat outside the courtroom not uttering a word. It took merely twenty minutes for a verdict to be reached.

  The clerk ushered the people back to their seats and announced the arrival of the judge back to the courtroom. “The honorable Judge Winston presides. Please stand.”

  After he took his seat, everyone sat down. Bradley was asked to remain standing. The judge faced the jury. “As to the verdict on the charge of sexual assault causing bodily harm, what say you?”

  The jury spokesperson stood. “Guilty.”

  The judge made a note in his ledger.

  The jury spokesperson remained standing and added, “The jury asks that the court consider extensive community service over jail time, as we all feel it was an isolated incident that we opine he is truly remorseful for.”

  Judge Winston looked like he was considering what they said. “I will take that under advisement in regard to sentencing.”

  Judge Winston went to deliberate. When he came back he spoke to the court. “I have considered all parties' requests. I will follow the jury's advice and sentence Mr. Hotman to five hundred hours of community service at the Red Cross in Toronto. Additionally, I am fining you two hundred thousand for the pain and suffering you’ve caused Ms. Kennedy, which will be donated to women's shelters in her name across Calgary."

  Court was adjourned. Bradley smiled. Justin shut off the camera and they drove back to the Village in silence for a second day in a row.

  The Confession

  When they arrived at the Village, Justin said, "I'd like to have drinks in the lounge after dinner, with only the coaches." They went their separate ways except for Ryan who followed Dhalia to the only camera-free room, which was hers.

  “Explain,” he ordered.

  “Explain what?” She stepped closer to him. His eyes were smoldering, anger palpable; he was on fire.

  “Your testimony, Dhalia!”

  She stepped even closer to him. There was only one way to avoid his question.

  “Kiss me.” She stared into his tormented eyes. “You know you want to.”

  He held nothing back. He kissed with unsuppressed hunger and desire.

  He forced her away, but she wanted more. Their breathing was hot, heavy, raspy. “Did you try to make him jealous on purpose?”

  She wanted Ryan to go wild. She needed it.

  “Yes,” she admitted.

  “Is that what you’re trying to do to me right now?”

  “Yes.”

  He grabbed her hard by the waist and thrust his hips into hers, kissing her with raw passion. “If you want me to take you, you’re going to have to beg for it, Dhalia,” he ordered.

  “I am.” She tore at his clothes. He stood naked before her. He stripped off hers and let them fall to the floor.

  He shoved his fingers in her with unadulterated roughness.

  Her pleasure quickening, he pushed her away again. He was killing her!

  “Did you want him to rape you?”

  Dhalia stopped. The question threw her off guard. This interlude with Ryan was no longer a game. Tears sprung from her eyes.

  “Yes. I didn’t expect it to get as violent as it did. I tried to tell you, but I lost my nerve. I need to explain to you.”

  Ryan backed away from her in shock as though she had slapped him. He looked down, into her eyes, this time showing despair. His silence spoke volumes.

  “After our shows stopped and we divorced, I was nearly broke. Mom left and I wasn’t working steadily. I needed the show to make it, just to survive. We thought this assault as it was, would increase the ratings,” Dhalia explained in defense of their actions.

  “We? You and Bradley planned this? It was staged?”

  “Yes,” she confessed. “He really got angry when I admitted that I was with you and how much you still meant to me. Then he stopped acting, and his anger became unleashed.”

  “Why didn’t you tell me your plan?”

  “It had to be believable.”

  “So you planned and staged your own rape, with Bradley, but he was too rough, is that right?”

  “Yes.”

  “The show was that important to you that you would do that?”

  “Yes, I needed food! I had to pay the bills.”

  “Why didn’t you ask me for money?”

  “We were divorcing, Ryan! How was I going to ask you? I still had some pride. We weren’t even talking with each other!”

  “You seriously staged it? Are you crazy?"

  “No.”

  “Who did you want to end up with? Tell the truth.”

  “You.”

  “You’re lying! You're so full of shit, I don’t know what to believe anymore. You said you loved him in court! What about the psych ward and the pills? Was that real or fake?”

  “Real.”

  “The nightmares and behavior?”

  “Real.” Her eyes scanned his. “I know it’s a lot to take in.”

  “How could you do it?”

  “Everything I did was for us. It would either benefit us now ... or later.”

  “Bullshit!” he seethed. “It seems like the only one who really cared about us was me. I wouldn’t have allowed you to do that for us.”

  “That’s why I couldn’t tell you." She stopped.

  “When it comes to the show, you’re not totally innocent,” she argued.

  “How so?”

  “You watched the videotape of him assaulting me! You watched the lowest moment of my life and you never so much as asked first. That violated me almost as much as Bradley did. Who does that? You had Justin televise the case even though I didn’t want it to be. Who prioritized ratings over a relationship?”

  “Viewers always love it when the ill-fated couple reunites in the end. Come to think of it, your idea, it’s brilliant. Bradley gets out with a slap on the wrist, ratings soar, you’re happy, Universa
l is happy. It’s what you promised all along. So now that he’s free, is it your plan to get back together with him in the end?”

  “No, not him!”

  “Are you saying that now, because I’m in the room with you? So let me get this straight. You wanted to kiss and make up with me in the end, was that the plan?”

  “No, I want to kiss and make up with you now.”

  “How will that affect the ratings?”

  “Ryan, don't be like that,” she begged.

  “You’ve single-handedly destroyed us. I used to blame Bradley, when all this time, I’ve been disillusioned by you.”

  “You just need time.” She couldn’t hold the tears back anymore.

  “Oh, you think so, do you? I don’t need time to know that you're not going to get that fairytale ending you want. I don’t need time to know I don’t want you anymore. Ever!”

  “You’re being rash.”

  Ryan gathered his clothes from the floor. "We’re going to be late for the get-together in the lounge." Ryan dressed before her. Finally, he took one step towards Dhalia and kissed her hungrily. His kisses were fast and jagged. His tongue slid its way seductively inside her mouth, having a final dance with hers. He pulled away and stated with conviction, “I stand corrected, you are most definitely a whore. We’re finished.”

  His words were like a cancer, a slow and painful reality she would never forget, coming from his lips. His eyes full of hate, he picked up her skates that were laying close to where he was standing and threw them as hard as he could against the wall. He slammed the door on his way out.

  Leaving Camp

  Dhalia’s vision was blurred; tears burned her eyes. She threw on some clothes and grabbed her suitcase and passport to pack. She folded her clothes neatly so she could get as much as she could into her bag and placed it behind the door. She even packed her skates, just in case she didn’t come back. She rinsed her splotchy face and reapplied makeup to hide any sign that she had been crying before going to the lounge where the coaches were meeting.

  She decided to text Bradley.

  Dhalia: Are you there?

  Bradley: Yes.

  Dhalia: I need to take a leave of absence. I can’t be here anymore.

  Bradley: Take all the time you need. It’ll be a paid leave.

  Dhalia: That’s not necessary.

  Bradley: It’s the least I can do. Your job will be waiting for you.

  Dhalia: Thank you.

  Bradley: Come back, Dhalia, and please, forgive me. I love you.

  Dhalia: You should have thought about that before you attacked me.

  Bradley: That’s why I attacked you.

  Dhalia: You expect me to understand that or trust you again?

  Bradley: I plan to earn your trust. And your love.

  All the coaches were present in the lounge. Dhalia helped herself to a glass of wine that looked to be the largest one on the table. She downed half the glass in one fell swoop, before approaching Justin. Justin looked pleased to see her. She flashed a smile and told him, “I have to make an announcement.”

  “Sure." Curiosity clouded his eyes.

  He took out a silver pen from his pocket and clinked it against his wine glass to get everyone’s attention. “Dhalia has something she would like to say.”

  She looked at Ryan as if he was the only person in the room. “After the recent events that transpired, I’m taking a leave of absence.” He looked down to keep his eyes from meeting hers. “I’m not sure when I will be back, but I really need this time to heal. Ryan will remain your go-to guy and camp will continue as planned. Please pass on my apologies to the competitors." Everyone, except for Ryan, came to hug her good-bye. They understood. When everyone was done, Dhalia paused for a quick second to see if he would come to her. He did.

  His eyes were dark and unreadable. He picked her up dramatically as if in one of their lifts in skating, and then he slowly lowered her, their bodies touching the entire time until they were face to face. He kissed her softly on the lips before her feet were touching the ground. Her heart melted. He whispered in her ear, “I thought it would look good for the cameras.”

  Dhalia left the room in a state of absolute misery. She went back to her room to get her luggage and passport, and when she reached for it, she felt material instead. She gasped. Her hand reached for the light. Standing before her was Bradley.

  “Don’t be scared. I just had to see you before you left.”

  “What are you doing here? Oh my God, what if the cameras see you?”

  “I told you I was here, in one of our texts.” He smiled.

  “I didn’t think you meant here, here. I can’t be near you right now.”

  “Just let me take you to where you want to go. I have my car downstairs; just spend a few minutes with me, please.”

  “How do I know you’re not going to hurt me?”

  “Because if I do anything like that again, they’re going to send me straight to jail.”

  His eyes were sincere, pleading.

  “Okay.” She turned off the light switch and he grabbed her luggage. They took the stairwell down to the garage where Bradley's car was parked. Once seated, the car roared to life. He looked at her and asked, “Where to?”

  “The airport, Bradley.”

  “Do you have a destination?”

  “You’re fishing!”

  “Sorry.”

  His eye’s remained on the road while he drove. As hard as it was to believe, being in a car with him now gave her flashbacks of the happier times in the Corvette when she was enamored by him. “Listen, Dhalia, our idea was really stupid ... and destructive. The only thing that came out of this was astronomically high ratings and money. It cost us our happiness. It’s been for nothing. I would have done anything to see your project succeed, as well as for you to be happy. I know I could say sorry a million times, and it would never be enough. Nothing I will ever do can fix this. I need you to know, Dhalia, that I really, really love you and I want us to have a happily ever after together.”

  Montego Bay

  Speechless, Bradley delivered Dhalia, as promised, to the airport. He took her bag from the trunk and heaved it on a porter’s dolly. “You pack heavy,” he complained. He paid the porter and left her alone to make her travel plans. Dhalia turned and the porter followed her. The ticket counters were busy, so choosing the shortest line, she waited twenty minutes to buy her plane fare. When it was her turn, she looked at the attendant, and said, “I want your next flight out.”

  “Uh," she stared at her screen, popped her gum and said, "that would be Istanbul. You should still be able to make the flight.”

  “Yeah, that won't work. What’s the flight after that?”

  “Jamaica.”

  “That’s better. I’ll buy one ticket please.”

  “You have plenty of time to make that flight.”

  “Thanks.”

  Dhalia bought her ticket and relieved her porter after the bags were checked in. She downloaded the Kindle application on her cell phone and browsed for books she could read when she got to Jamaica. She picked “Think and Be Happy: 365 Empowering Thoughts to Lift Your Spirit” by Shadonna Richards. She needed to be empowered and uplifted. She called her cell phone provider and asked for a special rate after she informed them she was going abroad. Shortly thereafter, the flight attendants called everyone to board.

  Dhalia took a sleeping pill with a bit of water and boarded the plane. The flight was going to take approximately six and a half hours. She planned to sleep the duration.

  The plane landed at the Montego Bay airport, and Dhalia found the inside was brightly lit and clean. There was a store that specifically assisted people in finding resort lodging. She stopped in, and a gentleman booked her into a four-star resort close to the airport and beach.

  Dhalia hailed a cab and asked the driver to take her to her destination. They drove by the beach where the sand was white and the water was the clearest she’d ever seen. She
couldn’t wait to take walks as the water tickled her toes! It was just sad her strolls would be solo. Alone time was good. It would give her a chance to heal and reconnect with nature.

  The four-star resort she chose was the Ritz. It had two kidney shaped pools and was located on the beach. Dhalia entered the grand lobby and checked in. She was to be on one of the top floors so she anticipated a beautiful view of the tropical scenery. When she got there she wasn’t disappointed from what she could see. It was still dark out since it was early in the morning when she arrived.

  Her room had a queen sized bed, a ceiling fan, the walls were painted a powder yellow, and the curtains were cream chiffon. It was very pretty. It was crazy early so Dhalia took a shower and turned on the television until she could go for breakfast.

  When the gift store opened, Dhalia bought tanning lotion and a fashionable straw hat. She decided to have breakfast at the buffet by the pool. It was continental with exotic fruits and pastries. When she chose a chair to lay on after breakfast, she spread lotion all over her body and dried her hands off on a towel before using her phone.

  She texted her mother so she wouldn’t worry.

  Dhalia: Mom, I decided to take a short leave of absence from the show to visit Montego Bay. I’m staying at the Ritz. If you hear in the media anything about a sexual or physical assault, please don’t listen to that. Whatever Ryan told you is what happened. You know how the media can twist things and make it sound worse. I will talk to you about it when I’m ready but just know that I am okay.

  Mom: Oh! Good Lord, what happened? I don’t hear from you in ages and you talk in script? Ryan told me Bradley assaulted you? Is he in jail? Did I ever meet this Bradley? Is this text costing you?

  Dhalia: Don’t worry about it, Mom, I can afford it, and I’m fine.

  Mom: What happened, and about you ‘affording’ it, that doesn’t mean that you can spend your money frivolously. You know your father had to work two jobs just to make ends meet.