Men of Endurance Limited Edition Collection

by Siera London

  "You have that look my kid's get when they have an upset tummy," she pointed at the kitchen. "Let me grab you some ale to settle your stomach."

  He chuckled. "Woman, I am not one of your kindergarteners. My tummy is fine." She yelped at the sensation of taking flight. Aron cradled her in his arms as he deposited them back on the couch, with her settled across his lap. "You ran off before I could give you a gift I've had since last Christmas."

  She crinkled her nose. "I hope it's not a fruit cake."

  "What are you talking about, Z?"

  "My father says they stay fresh like a canned good. I take him at his word. I prefer to buy my food fresh rather than canned, so I can't speak to canned goods shelf life. Honestly, I never acquired the taste of jellied fruit, nuts, and dough crammed together in a loaf. They look like a meatloaf of gummy worms to me."

  Aron captured her hands. "Stop baby and just breathe."

  At his prompting Zari’s oral rapid fire sequence came to an end.

  "Are you scared or nervous?" Her voice shook in reply.

  "Both," her voice cracked.

  He leaned forward, pressing his forehead to hers. The physical connection instantly soothed her frazzled nerve endings.

  "It's me, Zari. You can be sure with me."

  She breathed in his scent, the notes held the familiarity of a well-worn blanket to her senses.

  I know," she sighed. "It's...just, last night we said so much to one another. Everything is different between us."

  "Is that a bad thing?"

  "No, it's great. Beyond great, but it's unchartered territory, you know?"

  "I love you regardless of the situation, circumstance, or surroundings."

  Why was she feeling so lost? She loved Aron. He was the one man she'd stored up her love for–emotionally and physically.

  "I love you, too."

  "Don't over think us being together. Besides, I want you to open my gift."

  Zari held her breath when Aron reached into his pocket.

  Could this be the one present she'd wanted from him since the first time he kissed her?

  Chapter 8

  The doors to the study burst open. Zari wanted to scream. Her mother followed by a red-faced Tabia and a slew of aunts and cousins adorned in festive aprons stormed into the room.

  "Zari, how could you agree to another bet with your sister?"

  Her mother looked at her incredulously.

  "Now you owe your sister your paycheck! The angels in heaven know, I'll be choking on my holiday turkey knowing my children are gambling amongst themselves like common hooligans."

  "Mommy, it's not like you think. I thought I could get a date by Christmas and I needed the money." Zari saw Aron sit up taller at the mention of her needing the money.

  "What kind of selfishness could possibly drive you to wager against one another?"

  Zari hung her head. "It is for a good cause."

  "So you say, Missy. It was a bet that had your sister putting her lips on your man friend last year, did you know?"

  Zari zoomed in on her sister. Red blossomed in her sister's cheeks under her glare.

  "Ah, so you didn't know," her mother shook her head.

  "Tabia?" Her sister stepped around the aproned onlookers.

  "It was meant to be a joke," she whispered, "but everyone saw Aron's arms around me." Aron grumbled beside her, and she placed a hand on his knee. Hopefully, touch did soothe the savage beast. "Let the record reflect, he was pushing me away."

  "Why didn't you tell me?" Zari felt heartsick. All the tears and the months apart, the pain of seeing him and not being able to touch him.

  "When? You never answered your door. Phone calls went unanswered. You'd turn and walk away if I came to your job."

  Tabia was right. Zari refused to give Tabia or Aron a chance to explain.

  "I figured a bet broke you up, maybe a bet would bring you and Aron back together."

  A timer buzzed in the kitchen and sent the masses scampering back to boiling pots and sizzling baking dishes.

  "You took a huge gamble. What if one of your sister's blind dates had panned out." Her mother questioned.

  Zari felt Aron's fingers tighten on her hand.

  "Ah...that was never a cause of concern." Zari's interest was piqued.

  "Oh?" Zari wanted to hear this.

  "Well, I kind of hacked your online profile and cancelled all your confirmed dates."

  Aron burst out laughing.

  "You what?" Zari screeched. So she wasn't a dating misfit. Her sister had orchestrated this entire hash up from beginning to end.

  "But, the guy from last night called me instead of no-showing." The pieces fell into place for Zari at Tabia’s confession.

  "Yep, I couldn't cancel him because I had poor signal strength when I went to the airport to pick-up auntie. He really did jump ship on you."

  "That doesn't explain why you needed money in the first place, Zari."

  Her mother had a displeased tone in her voice. Zari moved away from Aron, bent under the Christmas tree. She moved gift boxes large and small until she found an envelope-sized box.

  "Here, mommy."

  "What is this?"

  Her mother eyed the gifted wrapped box with suspicion.

  "Just open it." Zari watched as her mother’s taunt expression, moved from surprise, to awe, then finally to tears.

  "You bought your father and I roundtrip tickets back home to Ghana?"

  "Let me see those." Tabia grabbed the airline tickets from her mother's trembling fingers.

  "Zari, I could strangle you. I bought mom a perfume gift set and dad a pair of slippers."

  "Okay," Zari laughed, "payback does taste sweet. And I don't need anymore details about your plot to reunite Aron and me."

  "Thank you, baby girl," her mother gave her a big hug, and then kissed her cheek.

  "You are welcome, mommy. Now you and daddy can travel back with auntie in the new year." Turning her attention back to Aron, Zari gave him her best smile. He'd remained quiet during the retelling of Tabia's Wild Adventure.

  "So, you were saying that you love me," Zari prompted.

  The door that should have closed swung open once again.

  "Did I hear love?" Tabia asked with a raised brow.

  "Tabia Okoro you will not see your twenty-second birthday if you don't come out of that study."

  Their mother's patience was hanging in the balance, if her tone was any indication.

  "But, Aron told Zari he loves her and he's about to give her something."

  And not a creature was stirring, not even the cuckoo clock. Six pairs of feet came running from the kitchen borderline pushing to get to the study.

  "I can see that Zari and I aren’t going to get an opportunity to talk," Aron chimed in. Tears sprang to Zari's eyes when Aron placed a heart shaped red velvet box in his open palm. When he lowered himself onto one knee in front of her, she closed her eyes. Was this real? Had her wish been granted?

  "Open your eyes, baby. I want you to experience every second of this moment with me." Zari's eyes sprang open and landed on the man she loved with her whole heart.

  "Do you like it, Z?"

  A one-half carat heart shape diamond, high mounted on a twisted white gold and diamond pave band was easy to like.

  "I love it," she sobbed, covering her mouth briefly with one hand.

  Aron grinned. "Do you love it enough to put it on your finger and say yes to marrying me?"

  "You bet your mistletoe I do,” Zari said launching herself at the man she loved.

  Tabia screamed, the volume rivaling the outdoor playground. "Mommy, Zari just won the bet! She won the bet."

  Tabia's outburst momentarily drew Zari's attention from the rock Aron centered on her left ring finger.

  "And you are happy about this why?" Her mom queried in the background.

  "Aron is a Doctor of Pharmacy! She got her doctor for Christmas. So, she'll replenish her bank account with the monies she won from
me. That means I indirectly helped to purchase your Christmas gift. I am so awesome!"

  Zari saw her mother hook arms with Tabia, while offering Zari a sympathetic look.

  "Tabia, give your sister and her fiancé their privacy."

  The smile on her mother's face at the word fiancé was the perfect complement to Christmas. They had a wedding to plan for the New Year.

  "You sure about the rest of the details," her sister quizzed, before turning to walk out of the study, "because Mr. Baker was responsible for keeping the pharmacy open during the storm. And he's going to be thrilled to see that rock on your finger across the dinner table."

  Zari's eyes stretched wide.

  "Mr. Baker was in on your scheme?"

  "You and Aron getting back together was on the Shell Cove Revitalization Plan," Tabia clucked her tongue.

  Aron burst out laughing. "I should have suspected something with that prescription Mr. Baker called in. Logan Masters is a pediatrician." Aron shook his head at the level of planning his friends had gone through to give Zari her doctor for Christmas.

  "Yeah, Mr. Baker hit a home run with that one, but Gage and Rourke closed Drury's to keep Zari out. Then Bishop ordered you off the street into the only store with an open for business sign. The stories I could tell about your second chance Christmas," Tabia said before closing the door.

  Zari beamed up at him. "You sure you want to marry into all this craziness?"

  Aron held her a little tighter. "It's a gamble I'm more than willing to make."

  Three bells rang out from the clock on the fireplace mantle. Zari recalled the tale her mother shared with them as children. An angel had just received new wings.

  Chapter 9

  Patience sat in the position of honor beside the throne. She peered over the heads of her fellow guardians watching Aron and Zari enjoy their first Christmas dinner together. She had never been accused of vanity, but she knew her smile outshone the stars lighting the Great Hall tonight.

  "This is a day of celebration for you," The Great One said.

  She glanced down at the feast before her, and then smiled up at him. The beauty of his love filled the room, the radiance so pure that even she could not see his features clearly at this distance. She'd imaged how he looked many times. Her heart leaped in her chest knowing her efforts contributed to the evening’s festivities. With just a thought, her new wings curled around her arms, enveloping her in warmth. The velvety brush of the feathers against her skin was reminiscent of a mother's caress.

  "Yes Sir, but–," she hesitated, unsure if she should broach the subject.

  "Tell me what troubles you, guardian."

  She bit her lip, reluctant to voice her concern. Questioning The Great One, the all-knowing power was frowned upon amongst the guardian class.

  "Sir, I do have a question...that is, I'm not questioning your actions, but...." This was going amuck. The Father had only been kind to her. Why was she afraid to seek his guidance?

  "Ask your question, I will answer," he said, placing a gentle hand on her shoulder. Closing her eyes, Patience inhaled, pulling His calm deep inside for courage.

  "I petitioned on their behalf for over a year. I was diligent in my fasting when they broke up. Why did you wait to answer my prayers?"

  The room fell silent and she winced. The full weight of The Great One’s gaze fell on her and she bowed in submission.

  "All you have stated is true. You held fast to your original petition. Never did you lose faith that I would grant your request."

  She felt his fingers tighten on her shoulder. Would she be the first guardian on record to lose her wings on the very night they were given?

  "You are a formidable warrior. Gabriel was wise in choosing your name."

  Patience beamed at The Great One’s praise of her efforts.

  "Then why allow them to mourn a love lost?"

  The Great One hooked a finger under her chin, raising her gaze in his direction.

  "I gave Aron and Zari their heart's desire when they called upon my name."

  The rising tension started to dissipate; the final remnants left her body on a shaky exhale. The clattered on platters, pitchers, and forks filled the Great Hall once more. Disaster averted.

  "Thank you, Sir for hearing their call." She reached up to touch Him, her fingers made contact with His presence before she lowered her hand.

  "The human race is mine to protect. I will always answer when they call out to me. Put your mind at ease Patience, for tomorrow you will start anew with Aron’s sister, Ava."

  The room went deafly silent. Ava…Patience's feathers ruffled at the enormity of her next assignment.

  The End

  Afterword

  Matthew 7:8

  For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds;

  and to him who knocks,

  the door will be opened.

  MERRY CHRISTMAS

  CHASING AVA: A BACHELOR OF SHELL COVE NOVEL

  Ch. 1

  Ava stood in the elegantly adorned grand foyer outside of the Coastal Towers ballroom, her feet rooted to the plush carpeted floor. Anxiety kept her frozen with the posed angles of an ill-placed statue. A random assembly of colleagues made eye contact, offered greetings and moved along without a second glance. She should not have agreed to come out tonight.

  Straight ahead, she had a clear view of the city's namesake, Shell Cove, and the larger Queens Bay in the distance. A scattering of waterfront mansions, private docks and yachts dotted the waterscape. With her peripheral vision she met with the frown of her best friend.

  "Ava Elaine Walters you can not back out. You are two size-seven stilettos away from the party." Lina chided.

  Lina James, her best friend from elementary school gave extrovert a new meaning. The two of them couldn't be more divergent. Lina was cocoa to Ava's butterscotch complexion. Ava's petite frame lacked the fluid poetry of Lina's full curves. Lina had the type of figure teenaged boys cut out of magazines and hid under their mattresses. Ava lived her life backstage while Lina chose center spotlight.

  She'd allowed Lina to talk her into a group social thingy. Ava had sworn off non-clinical social interaction six years ago. If she hadn't known them before spring semester of sophomore year there was a "no admittance sign" firmly tacked on her inner circle.

  Pop tunes wafted into the lobby with every evening gown clad young woman exiting the ballroom. A reliable indication, that the Shell Cove Medical Center party had hit its full swing to Ava.

  "It was a mistake to come. Thanks to you and Jace I left the house on a Saturday night. That's celebration enough for me." Tonight would be cataloged as another foolish decision, in a not so comedic list of errors.

  "It's a Christmas miracle." Lina rolled her eyes heavenward, the hint of laughter reflected on her face.

  "Don't worry about driving me back home. Go join Jace inside. The valet can hail me a cab."

  "I'm not worried because we are going to sashay through this door together." Lina pointed to the twin ornate brass handles on the twenty-foot high doors.

  Ava ground her teeth in frustration. Nothing grated her nerves more than friends and family telling her what to do. The worst part, they genuinely believed she needed direction. The fault lay with her. How had she sunk to making those closest to her feel responsible for her life? It was official. She had baby-bird syndrome. Dependent, too weak to leave the nest. She should have been a nurse in the United States Navy, like her college roommate Jana, but fear kept her tethered to this familiar, coastal Florida town. Pathetic.

  "We both know what's waiting for you at home." Lina placed her hands on her hips, careful not to crease the fabric. Ever the diva. Hands on her hips meant Lina was ready to drive her point towards a home run.

  "How could 'we' know that when I'm not at home?" She smiled at her snappy come back.

  Her response earned a "you've got to be kidding me" look, from Lina. Taking her arm Lina led her to the coved seating area away for the ballroom
doors.

  "I know all about your grandmother's Holy Ghost hook-ups. Let me activate my super powers and predict your future. This, my reclusive friend, is a retelling of the voicemail you received before we picked you up tonight."

  Lina paused before raising her elbows and stacking her forearms in an, "I Dream of Jeannie" imitation. Of the two of them, Lina was hands down the Grand Diva of dramatic gestures.

  "Granny Lou has invited another borderline social security recipient to Sunday dinner." Ava gave no outward appearance of hearing the statement. Lina continued on. "She's hopeful that you'll show a remote interest in the male species before Jesus calls her back to heaven." At that, her best friend offered an, I know I'm right expression.

  Did the entire populace know her grandmother had taken on the mission of finding Ava a matrimony eligible man?

  Unfortunately for Ava, her grandmother's social circle consisted of the community seniors club and the church auxiliary. Louise Stanton, affectionately known as Granny Lou was E-harmony, Match.com, and a well meaning, but meddlesome church mother packaged into five foot two inches of sparky banter and sequined Velcro comfort shoes.

  Ava rolled her eyes heavenward, taking in a deep breath. A telltale sign that Lina's assessment of the situation was accurate. Ava loved her family, but she didn't do relationships.

  The silence stretched between the two women. Ava squirmed like a toddler in a car seat under her friend's scrutiny.

  "Your silent routine doesn't work with me Ava. Which wife-seeking, God-fearing deacon has she invited to Sunday dinner?"

  Never one to let you off the hook Lina held an expectant gaze. Ava gave a resigned sigh then offered the name of her would be suitor. "Deacon Hill."

  Ava knew the exact moment Lina recalled the porky gentleman. Wide eyes stared back at Ava as Lina's mouth opened and closed several times before she hid her smile with a carefully placed palm over her red velvet colored mouth. Lina would risk her friend's ire by laughing, but never would she suffer an accidental smudge to perfectly painted lips.