Watercolors: Ellison Brothers

by Vera Roberts

  “I was hoping you wouldn’t but I had a feeling it was inevitable.” Ocean replied. “I hope she wasn’t too bad.”

  Aaliyah remembered Ximena’s biting words. She knew about her past, yet Ocean didn’t. Aaliyah wondered how long it would be before Ocean did find out. “It went as well as it was going to go.”

  “She won’t do anything if she wants to be with me.” Ocean reassured. “She talks a hard game but she won’t do anything. She’s harmless.”

  “I’m not too sure about that.” Aaliyah replied. “She seems hell-bent in being a part of the family one way or another.”

  “That’s her problem, not mine.” He replied. “The only woman I’m concerned with is the one I’m dancing with currently. Everything else is not a priority.”

  “Did you want me to move to D.C.?” Aaliyah asked.

  “No,” he replied, “if you’re settled in Atlanta, stay there. We’ll figure something out.”

  Aaliyah chewed her bottom lip. “What about if I move back here? Would that be okay?”

  Ocean pulled back slightly. “What do you mean? I thought you were set up in Atlanta?”

  “I am but it’s nothing but furniture and a move can take care all of that.” She mentioned. “If it’ll be easier for you to be here to see your family, I would rather be here. You’re Keisha’s OB/GYN and you’re close to your brothers and parents. I don’t want to take that away from you.”

  “And what about you? Your father is in Atlanta,” he mentioned. “You two are pretty close.”

  “My father will be fine. He has my uncles and cousins to help him. He also has a plethora of women to keep his bed happy. He’ll be fine.” Aaliyah held his face within her hands. “We probably can’t move soon because I’m shooting but maybe within a year?”

  “I say that’s perfect.” Ocean kissed his girlfriend. “Did you want to move in with me at my home? Did you want to find another?”

  “I can move in with you.” She replied. “I love the freedom to skinny dip whenever I want to.”

  “And I like the freedom of watching that ass move when you do.” He replied. He swept his lips over hers. “Let’s start the planning next week.”

  Aaliyah smiled. Everything was about to come true. Nothing could ruin her moment. “Sounds good to me.”

  “Can I interrupt?”

  Aaliyah looked over at her nightmare. Only Thomas Ellison would interrupt a private moment.

  Thirteen

  “No.” Aaliyah answered. “I’m good, love. Enjoy.”

  “Ocean, Briana wants to take a picture with you.” Thomas pointed to her direction. “It’ll be great for her campaign.”

  Ocean’s heart burned with anger. His father always had impeccable timing. “I’ll be right back.” He left.

  Thomas waited until his son was at Briana’s side before he began to dance with Aaliyah. The song had changed to “If You’re Think You’re Lonely Now” by Bobby Womack. Aaliyah couldn’t help but to think that was intentional by Thomas.

  Thomas twirled Aaliyah around and pulled her close. “Whatever game you’re playing, Ms. Smith, you won’t win.”

  Aaliyah read Thomas’s eyes. They were cold and calculating, yet his mouth curved into a dancing smile. He was the true definition of a psychopath. “I’m not playing any game.”

  “Oh yes, you are.” Thomas replied. “You could’ve told Ocean you were no longer interested in him and that would’ve been done and over with. Now you got a reality show and I heard Ocean taped an episode. I’ll make sure it won’t air and any references to him would be removed.”

  “Why do you hate me?” Aaliyah asked. “I have never done anything to your son but love him.”

  “I don’t hate you but I love my family and legacy more.” Thomas replied as he turned her around. “And we both know you’re not a good fit for the Ellison legacy.”

  “One can say the same thing about you.” She retorted.

  “Touché.” Thomas grinned. “I do love your tenacity.”

  “I love your son and he loves me.” Aaliyah sharpened her tone. “There’s nothing you can do about that.”

  “Love is fleeting, sweetheart,” Thomas continued dancing with her. “Power is forever.”

  “Ocean is his own man.” Aaliyah realized her teeth were clenched. “He will make decisions based on what is best for him.”

  “Maybe before you, yes. Now, not so much.” Thomas replied and blew out a small breath before he spoke into Aaliyah’s ear. “You have a lot to learn on how politics work, sweetheart. Feelings don’t matter when there’s power involved.”

  Aaliyah felt the unmistakable anger rise inside of her and she swallowed the emotions. “You forced Ocean’s hand the last time but you won’t do it again.”

  “I’ll do whatever I damn well please when it comes to my sons and their best interests. All of their successes can be traced back to me. I made the calls, introduced them to all of the right people, and they all have much success thanks to me. They will be the first to tell anyone that.” Thomas slightly pulled back and met eyes with Aaliyah. “You are not the exception.”

  Aaliyah squeezed Thomas’s hand tighter to keep herself from slapping him. “Fuck you.”

  “You’re not my type and I’ve had plenty to compare.” Thomas smiled.

  “You’re comical,” Aaliyah smiled, “you have built your entire career and platform on black suffering. Each time there’s a shooting or a murder or an unarmed black man, all you see are dollar signs and airtime. You’re like that one attorney who is more known for representing sexual harassment victims and mistresses of dumb athletes and entertainers. No wonder you’re all up on Briana Gooding’s twat. Her father killed an illegal immigrant and you couldn’t wait to insert your bad-bodied ass into the discussion and make her the victim. Tell me, did Briana also pay with pussy?”

  “Ooh, you’re feisty. I like that.” Thomas pulled Aaliyah closer to him and felt her anger. “You need to understand, Ms. Smith, you and Ocean have one thing in common – you’re both stubborn. He’s not going to give up his home in Bel-Air to move to Atlanta. You’re not going to give up your studio to move to D.C. If a celebrity client wants you to tattoo them up on the same day Ocean has a major fundraiser to attend and he needs you, which takes precedence?

  “If Ocean decides to run for re-election, are you going to give up everything and become a senator’s wife? You may have in the past, but you will not do it in the future. Based on that alone, it won’t work. Furthermore, you both know it won’t work. But you two feel you have a common enemy in me, it’ll push you to make it work. It takes more than love and even resentment against me to make a relationship work.” He stepped away and kissed her hand. “Enjoy your night, Ms. Smith. You won’t have too many of these left.” He walked away.

  Aaliyah felt the anger course through her veins and rushed to the bathroom before she made a scene. How dare Thomas humiliate her like that in front of everyone? He’d never liked her the moment he laid eyes on her and been plotting her to disappear from Ocean’s life forever.

  If Aaliyah didn’t care about Ocean the way she did, she would’ve walked away again like the first time. She was going to stay and fight for him, even if it was against her better judgment. Thomas may have ruled their relationship the first go-round but he had no authority to say a single word this time.

  Aaliyah entered the bathroom and set her clutch down on the counter. She stretched her arms out and gripped the edge of the counter so tightly, her knuckles turned white. Thomas was going to be a thorn in her side until she would eventually leave Ocean alone or vice-versa.

  She needed to beat Thomas at his game, but with what he knew about Aaliyah, what good would it do? If Thomas wanted to expose Aaliyah, he would and not even care about Ocean’s life in the process. He did it before and he wouldn’t hesitate to do it again.

  “I’m stuck,” she said to no one in particular. “I’m stuck until I give up.” Her head fell back in frustration and Aaliyah shook i
t. “I need to fight back but how?”

  “Oh no! Not here! Not here!”

  Aaliyah recognized the worried tone from Keisha in another stall. “Keisha?” She called out. “Are you okay?”

  “No!” Keisha opened the door with her gown pulled up to her waist. “My water just broke!”

  Aaliyah’s eyes went wide and her mouth formed a perfect O. “We need to get you to a hospital! I’ll get the guys.”

  “Liyah,” Keisha grabbed her arm, “I’m not going to make it to the hospital.” She feverishly shook her head. “The baby is coming now!”

  “Oh fuck!” Aaliyah bit. “Stay here! I’ll get Ocean now!” She rushed back out and found Ocean talking with his brothers. “Ocean and Savior, show time! Keisha’s in labor in the bathroom. Let’s go! We don’t have time to go the hospital!”

  “What?” Savior dropped his drink and followed his brother to the bathroom. Keisha was hunched over on a sofa and clutching her stomach. “Gorgeous…”

  Keisha clutched Savior’s arms and breathed hard. “She’s coming, baby. Lyric is coming.”

  “Right now?” Savior asked and Keisha nodded. “Oh shit.” He looked up at his oldest brother. “You ready to deliver a baby, Doc?”

  Ocean quickly got into position as Savior eased Keisha onto the floor. Ocean checked the baby’s position and knew Lyric was coming immediately. “We’re about to have a baby.” Ocean smiled at his sister-in-law. “Now Keisha, listen to me. The baby is coming quick so when I say push, you do it and don’t stop.” He met eyes with her. “Got it?” She nodded. “Let’s have a baby.”

  Soon, other members of the Ellison family rushed into the bathroom. Thomas took off his jacket and Starr crouched down next to Savior and Keisha. Soul acted as security and blocked other curious eyes from watching.

  Aaliyah watched in awe as her boyfriend delivered his niece. It was the most beautiful and frightening thing she’d ever witnessed. Savior comforted Keisha while Ocean was focused on the task before him.

  “There you go….there you go.” Ocean cooed as he pulled the baby out. He quickly unwrapped the cord from Lyric’s neck and cleaned out her nose. “One big push for me, Keisha, and she’ll be out.”

  Keisha hunkered down and pushed through with Savior behind her. She was sweating, mascara ran down her cheeks, and she was mentally and physically exhausted. It was a hard and fast labor at breakneck speed. She had more than enough.

  “Is she out?” Keisha softly spoke. Her voice was above a whisper.

  Ocean pulled out Lyric and Thomas quickly wrapped her in his jacket. “Aaliyah?” Ocean called for her.

  “Yes,” Aaliyah rushed to his side. “Yes, O?”

  “Do you have those wipes?”

  “Um, yes!” Aaliyah sprung up, grabbed her clutch, and pulled out her baby wipes. She handed them over to Ocean who quickly wiped down Lyric. He placed her on Keisha’s chest.

  “Give her a moment,” Ocean sensed the couple’s worry when Lyric was quiet. “She’s trying to figure out what just happened here.” A few moments later, the infant cried and everyone cheered. “There’s my niece.”

  Aaliyah was in awe. Ocean delivered his niece without breaking a sweat. Helping others was truly his calling and it made sense he went into the medical profession instead of becoming a lawyer like Savior and their father.

  Aaliyah briefly wondered if Ocean would be okay if she got off birth control within the next few years?

  “We hear someone delivered a baby!” EMTs came through and met with Keisha and Savior. “Congratulations, mom and dad. Let’s get you to the hospital and get everyone checked out!”

  Keisha and Savior left in an ambulance with Thomas and Starr behind them. Ocean stayed behind to clean up and straighten himself out before he dealt with cameras and members of the press. “You were amazing back there,” Aaliyah watched her boyfriend clean up after everyone was gone. It was just the two of them in the bathroom. “You knew what to do without second thinking it.”

  “Sometimes, you just go into that mode where the only thing you want is a healthy baby out of it. Childbirth is tricky because it’s two lives at stake and neither is more important that the other.” He thoroughly washed his hands and dried them. “When I saw the chord around Lyric’s neck, I did panic for a brief moment. And then I went back into beast mode.”

  “And what a beast you are,” Aaliyah admired. “What a birth story for her when she gets older.”

  “I couldn’t have done it without you by my side,” Ocean turned towards her. He walked up to her and pulled Aaliyah close. “You were amazing back there. You were grace under fire and you didn’t even hesitate to help me. Any other woman might have fainted or rushed out of here, but you stayed and supported all of us.” He dropped down to one knee. “I think now is a good time as any to make you an Ellison.”

  Aaliyah felt her heart stammer. The pounding was so loud in her ears, it was deafening. Was he going to…? Right now? While there was still some afterbirth on the floor near them?

  “O…” Aaliyah felt her lips tremble. “…what…what are you doing?”

  Ocean reached into his pocket and pulled out a dark engagement box. He opened it up and an enormous emerald ring flanked by two small sapphires stared back at Aaliyah. “I remember when you said you didn’t want diamonds because you didn’t want to wear someone’s blood on your hands. So, I got you the next best thing. I don’t expect you to wear this all of the time and maybe I should’ve gotten you a simpler ring, but I wanted to show you how much I value and appreciate you, even when we have the odds against us.

  “We’ve come a long way and we have an even longer way to go, but I’m willing to see through the end if you are. Aaliyah Flower Smith, will you do me the honor of marrying me?”

  “Yes!” Aaliyah cried and stayed still as Ocean placed the ring on her finger. The emerald was so big and it sparkled against her light skin tone. She hugged her fiancée and kissed him.

  Before she could do any wedding planning, it was time for Aaliyah to come clean. “O, there’s something I need to tell you.”

  “What?” He asked. “What is it, rainbow?”

  Aaliyah took a deep breath. “O…I…I…I used to be a….”

  “Ocean!” Justin opened the bathroom. “I’m sorry to interrupt but the press is outside and they’re dying to hear from you. You gotta get out there, man.”

  “Okay, I’ll be there. Give us one more moment.” He advised and Justin closed the door. He turned back to his fiancée. “What is it you wanted to tell me, angel?”

  Aaliyah didn’t want to ruin Ocean’s moment before he met with the press. “You know what? It’s not that important. We’ll talk later tonight. I promise.”

  “Okay.” He kissed her one last time. “We’ll talk later.” He straightened his suit and left the bathroom.

  Aaliyah blew out the breath she didn’t know she held and gathered herself. The press went light on her knowing she was a potential love interest of Ocean’s, but no one serious. Once the engagement became public, everyone will start digging into her past.

  How was she going to handle telling him about it?

  If Ocean knew about her past, there was no reason for him to stay with her. Furthermore, no one would elect him with Aaliyah by his side? What man would stay with a woman who used to be a professional whore?

  Ocean wouldn’t.

  ~~~~~

  “Let’s dance, baby.”

  Ocean put on Teddy Pendergrass and popped a bottle of champagne. “We need to celebrate!” He poured two glasses of Ace of Spades and handed one over to his fiancée. “Life is so beautiful tonight!”

  Ocean’s enthusiasm was infectious. He was floating so high and no one could bring him down. The press ate up the story of him delivering Lyric at Briana’s fundraiser and his social media pages were flooded with well-wishers and voters promising to elect him. Some even wanted Ocean to deliver their children and they weren’t even pregnant.

  Ocean was a little tips
y but in a celebratory mood. Aaliyah had never seen him so happy, so in love with life. She thought about the confession that burned the tip of her tongue and how it was effectively kill his night. She didn’t want to ruin that moment.

  “Briana had an amazing fundraiser, I delivered my niece, and the woman who I’ve always loved and never stopped loving is letting me to be her husband.” Ocean wrapped his arms around Aaliyah shoulders and kissed her temple. “This night can’t get any better than this!”

  “It can’t!” Aaliyah agreed. “To you, baby.” She held up her glass. “To everything.”

  “No,” Ocean turned her around and stared deeply into her eyes. “To us. I couldn’t have done any of this without you. You’re love personified and I’m the luckiest man on earth. You see my heart and character. You’re a piece of heaven right here on earth. Cheers, bae.” He clinked glasses with her.

  Aaliyah carefully sipped her champagne. She held back tears because she was afraid of ruining her makeup. No man had ever touched her soul the way Ocean did. “Cheers to us.”

  Ocean swallowed his champagne in a gulp and rummaged through his old vinyls. “What did you want to talk to me about back there?”

  “Um,” Aaliyah thought of a good lie. “I just wanted to see if you wanted to get married here or in Atlanta?”

  “Anywhere you want, baby.” Ocean found what he was looking for. It was an old George Benson record. “Yes!” He put it on and “Love X Love” blared through the speakers. “Let’s dance, love.”

  Ocean and Aaliyah danced to the soulful crooning of George Benson. Aaliyah couldn’t help but to notice how happy and almost delirious Ocean was. He was just so happy and everything in his life was perfect. She had numerous opportunities to tell him about her past but couldn’t stomach his potential reaction.

  She thought about maybe Ocean knew about her past, but it made no sense. Why would he keep that quiet? Furthermore, why would he come back to her if he knew? He wouldn’t. He would stay away.