As Long As We Got Love

by Tina Martin

  “No, Charity. He didn’t. He wouldn’t. What he did was much worse than that, anyway,” Eden said. She found a Kleenex in her purse and blew her nose.

  “What did he do?”

  “This morning, he was acting normal, like my husband—like the man I fell in love with and married. He cooked breakfast and I was thinking that since he was in such a good mood, it would be the ideal time to tell him about the baby. Well, I was wrong. As we were finishing our meals, I told him and he got up and walked out of the kitchen.”

  “He just got up? Didn’t say anything to you?”

  “He didn’t say a word. He stood up and walked out. A few minutes later, I heard him actually leaving the house like he couldn’t stand to be near me because I told him I was pregnant. I may as well have said I had the Zika virus. He didn’t want anything to do with me.”

  “Let me get this straight. You told him you were pregnant, and he didn’t say anything.”

  “That’s right. His face was as blank as a sheet of paper. He just sat there for a moment like it took a lil’ while for my words to actually register and once they finally did, he stood up and walked out.”

  “Where is he now?”

  “I have no clue where he is. I’m not even at home. I’m sitting out in front of your house, actually.”

  “Eden, get out of the car and come on in.”

  “No. I don’t want Heshan getting an ear full of this nonsense.”

  “Heshan isn’t here right now.”

  Eden sniffled. “I still don’t want to come in.”

  “Then I’m coming out there as soon as I put my shoes on. Okay.”

  “Okay.” Eden placed her phone back in the center console of her car. She leaned forward and buried her face in her hands as she laid against the steering wheel. She already had in mind what she was going to do. She had suitcases in the back seat and hadn’t planned on going back home. She couldn’t take any more of Dilvan’s behavior, and she definitely wouldn’t stand by and allow him to treat her like she had the plague because she was pregnant. With his baby…

  She looked up when she heard Charity’s knuckles tap the glass on the passenger side window and pressed the button to unlock the door. Charity immediately opened it and got inside, rubbing her hands together as her body soaked in the heat.

  “It’s too cold out here to be sitting in a car.”

  “I got the heat on, Charity.”

  “Yeah, but still. I’m just saying.” She looked her sister in the eyes and said, “Come here,” as she threw an arm around her. And she just held her for a minute while Eden worked up more tears. It was at this moment when Charity saw the suitcases in the back seat.

  “Where are you going?” she asked, separating from her. “Are you leaving?”

  “Yes,” Eden said. “I—I can’t take it anymore, Charity. And I tried—tried to help him. I make his appointments, I pick up his prescriptions—I do everything I can, but he’s not helping his self and you just can’t help someone who doesn’t want to do anything to help their self. And then the way he reacted when I told him I was pregnant…” Eden shook her head. “It felt like darkness descended upon the room. I feel like he’s punishing me for getting pregnant like it was my fault. And I’m happy about the baby. I want a baby. I lost—” her voice cracked. “My first pregnancy ended in a miscarriage. I don’t want that to happen again.”

  Charity nodded, thinking about how painful it was for Eden to lose the first baby. “Well, I don’t like what he did and I’ve always looked at Dilvan sideways—and probably always will—but I guess you can at least hear him out first before you decide to leave him.”

  Eden shook her head. “The decision is already made. I got a hotel for the night and I’m flying out first thing in the morning.”

  Her face contorted to fear. “Flying out where?”

  “Back to Belize. I still have my office apartment there and I’ll be just fine raising my baby alone.”

  “No, Eden. Don’t—”

  “I’m sorry, Charity, but I can’t stay. I’ve gotten accustomed to being independent after my first failed relationship, anyway. I didn’t even want to fall in love again, but I took a chance on Dilvan despite his flaws, and look at where that’s gotten me. He walked out on me like I meant nothing to him. And you know what the sad part is?”

  “There’re more sad parts?”

  “We’d just made love the night before, and he was telling me how much he loved me and how he felt like I deserved a better man than him—all things he’s said to me countless times—and I’m just tired of the depression and the mood swings. He’s happy and full of life sometimes, then you see him again and he’s depressed and nearly suicidal. Even if he does change his mind and decides he wants to be a father, I don’t want to subject my child to a father with practically two personalities. If it’s screwing me up, I can only imagine what his wishy-washy behavior will do to a child.”

  Charity shook her head as if to juggle all these thoughts around in it. “Okay, timeout—as much as I would like to choke Dilvan right now, I think it’ll be worth it for you to at least talk to him before hauling it to another country, Eden.”

  “You mean like he hauled it out the front door when I told him I was pregnant?”

  Charity sighed.

  “I’ll be fine,” Eden said. “Maybe I need to be alone. Seems I have a knack for attracting abusive men into my life,” Eden said, thinking back to her ex, the man she was with before Dilvan, who physically and mentally abused her. The man had not only kept her away from her family, but it was nothing for him to beat on her – had her hiding black eyes with makeup. When he’d finally given her a slight concussion, she knew she had to run for her life. So she fled to Belize. Started over. That’s where she met Dilvan. She knew a relationship with him would be risky, but she fell for his handsome looks, gray eyes and well-built body. He was every woman’s dream – well when it came to looks, that is. Everything else about him was questionable. “I can only imagine what mom will think of me when she gets the news about this.”

  “That’s the least of your worries right now. The reunion is right around the corner. What am I supposed to say when everyone discovers you’re missing? After Dilvan goes to him, you know Heshan is going to come straight to me to find out where you are.”

  “Wow. You said Heshan was coming straight to you. Not Dilvan.”

  “Because Dilvan knows I don’t like him. Honestly, I was only tolerating him because you loved him.”

  “I still do love him,” Eden said. “I can’t stand his ways, but I still love him.”

  “Then there you have it—all the more reason for you to stay and work it out.”

  Eden shook her head, reaching to adjust the heat to a lower setting. “No, and I don’t care what you tell Heshan. Everyone is going to find out sooner or later. Knowing this family, they’d know sooner rather than later, so I’m not asking you to keep this a secret. I wanted to be upfront with you about what I’m doing because you’re my sister and I at least want you to know where I am this time.”

  Silence filled the car as Charity brushed her hands across her curls, trying to come to terms with what she was hearing. She couldn’t believe this was happening, so she knew her sister couldn’t either.

  “I’m tired, Charity. I need to go. I’ll call you in the morning.”

  Charity didn’t say a word. Didn’t move a muscle.

  “Charity?”

  She sighed. “Eden, are you one-hundred percent sure about this?” she asked her. She didn’t want her sister to go. She was happy they’d reunited and was living so close to each other again. She’d imagined them getting even closer, rebuilding their sisterly bond and raising their children together – well when she and Heshan decided to have children. At the same time, she didn’t want her sister to be in a relationship – a marriage – that she deemed mentally abusive. One that she feared her child would also be affected negatively by. Even though she wanted to, she couldn’t make
Eden stay under these circumstances.

  “I’m not one-hundred percent sure about anything anymore,” Eden said. “I just know that, right now, I need to go.”

  Charity huffed a breath, pushing her sadness away so he could be the support her sister needed. “Then if you need anything, please call me.”

  Eden smiled sadly. “I will.”

  Chapter 14

  -*- Preston and Tamera -*-

  Tamera screamed in happiness when she saw her father. She’d last seen him at her wedding and was beside herself with joy when she ran up to him and squeezed him as tightly as her muscles would allow. “Hey, Dad!”

  “Hey, baby girl. It’s so good to see you,” he said, equally elated.

  “It’s good to see you too,” she said, looking him up and down. “You look good, Dad. Nice and lean.”

  “Yes, thanks to your mother. She’s been feeding me some good meals…keeping me sharp.”

  “That’s my job,” Rena said, coming into view from the dining room.

  “Hey, Mom,” Tamera said happily, hugging her mother as closely as she’d hugged her father.

  John walked over to Preston and shook his hand. “Good to see you again, Preston.”

  “Likewise, Mr. Alexander.”

  “Are you keeping my girl happy?”

  “I’m doing my best,” Preston said honestly, glancing over at Tamera.

  And then Rena hugged Preston, looked up to connect her eyes to his and asked, “How’s my handsome son-in-law doing?”

  He cracked a smile. “I’m doing good Mrs. Alexander. How’s my beautiful mother-in-law?”

  Rena blushed. “I’m doing wonderful. I’m so glad you two made it in okay. Are you staying here with us? Padma has opened up the house to everybody.”

  “No, Ma. We’re staying at one of the oceanfront hotels. We already have a reservation—checking in this afternoon at four.”

  “How far is the hotel from here?” Preston asked Tamera.

  “Not far at all. A few miles. We’re literally right around the corner. Hey, where’s Padma?”

  “Her and Colin ran out to take care of some last minute details for the reunion,” Rena explained. “Have you two had breakfast?”

  “We grabbed food on the way in, so we’re good,” Tamera said. “Plus, we have to make our rounds. I want to swing by the Food House before we check into the hotel, then we’re going to Tyson and Gabrielle’s for dinner tonight.”

  “Wonderful. Tyson came by this morning already.”

  “He did?” Tamera asked, giddy. “Did he bring the kids with him?”

  “No. They’re with Lalita.”

  “Where’s Gabrielle?”

  “You know she works at the pastry shop with her father now.”

  “That’s right. Duh, Tamera,” she told herself.

  Preston grinned, taking in this version of her. She was different when she was around family, he noticed. She was more relaxed and less rigid and professional.

  “Anyway, Padma left us with a variety of breads and jam. Why don’t you two sit down with us for a moment and catch up?” Rena asked.

  “Okay. Are you good with that, Preston?”

  “Yes. It’s whatever. I’m going with the flow,” he said.

  “My kinda guy,” John said.

  When they were seated, John got right down to business by asking, “How’s the magazine coming along, Preston?”

  “It’s doing pretty good. Sales are up again this year. That’s always a bonus.”

  “I have to say, I saw that article you did on the PGA Tournament at Quail Hollow—I thought it was superb. Well written.”

  “Thank you,” Preston said, feeling a sense of pride and acceptance that John actually took the time to read the article. “I try to get my team to cover as much as possible, but when it comes to major events like the PGAs, I have to dust off my laptop and get to it.”

  John chuckled. “The rain almost stole the show for the PGAs, didn’t it?”

  “It did—seemed like a monsoon came through at some point every day.”

  “Yeah. I watched it all play out in the news.”

  “How has it been pursuing your new career, Tamera?” Rena broke in to ask.

  “It’s actually doing pretty good.”

  “Not better than working for the health department I imagine,” John said.

  Preston frowned slightly. Seemed John was coming down on his daughter for no good reason. Or maybe that’s how they talked. He hadn’t watched the two interact long enough to know the difference, but judging by the expression on Tamera’s face, she wasn’t bothered by it.

  “Working at the health department was a safe, consistent job, but in this world we live in, doing your own thing is the way to go. And, while my review site isn’t generating as much income as working for the city, it’s doing good enough.”

  “Plus, she has one hundred percent support from me,” Preston chimed in to say. “When it comes to building something from the ground up and grinding, putting your all into it, I can’t help but get behind her because that’s exactly what I did when I started Charlotte Recreational.”

  “No doubt,” John said as he nodded.

  Rena spread grape jam on a piece of bread right before she asked, “So, when am I going to get some grandbabies out of you two?”

  “Oh Lord…” John grinned. “I should’ve known you were going to say something ‘bout some grandbabies.”

  Preston smirked.

  Tamera smiled uncomfortably. Talking about being put on the spot…

  “Ma, don’t Tyson have enough babies to scratch your itch for now?” she asked.

  “Partially. You’re my daughter. I get to experience it every step of the way with you.”

  “Well, I hate to be the bearer of bad news but I don’t think they’re going to be any babies in our immediate future,” Tamera said.

  “By immediate future, you mean what?” Preston asked. “Three months? Six? Twelve?”

  Tamera looked puzzled. “O-kaaay…um…tell ya what. We’ll talk about this later, Mom, after Preston and I have had a chance to discuss it again.” Tamera brightened her eyes at Preston. What did he think he was doing?

  * * *

  “Okay, you completely caught me off guard with the whole baby thing,” Tamera said when they were in the car now, heading to Padma’s Food House.

  “Why?” Preston asked. “You know I want children. I know you want children and—”

  “Yeah, but we never discussed a timeline for that.”

  “A timeline? Why would we need a timeline? Children usually just happen.”

  Tamera frowned. “That’s not true.”

  “It is true. Most of the population is a result of unplanned pregnancies. People don’t plan to have babies anymore. They just—bloop—have them.”

  “Well, for us it will need to be planned. People can do whatever they want. My life and my uterus have to be ready to welcome a baby.”

  Preston glanced at her then returned his attention back to the road. “Did you just say your uterus had to be ready?”

  Tamera giggled. “Yes, and my life, Preston. I can’t have a baby while trying to get my business off the ground. I mean, I can see how easy welcoming a baby would be for you since your business is successful, but I’m just starting out and who has time for morning sickness, backaches and a mess of appointments? Not me.”

  “You’re my wife. What’s yours is mine and what’s mine is yours. Stop thinking about our businesses and finances separately and start looking at us together as an entity. We’re perfectly ready to bring a child into the picture at any time we want.”

  “But I’m not ready for a child, Preston.”

  “What if I told you I was?”

  “Is that what you’re telling me?”

  “Yes. That’s what I’m telling you. I want a child.”

  “I’m sorry. I don’t believe what I’m hearing right now. We’ve been married for all of four months and you want a child
?”

  Preston followed the voice direction of the GPS and after a few turns, he was in the parking lot of Padma’s Food House. “This is the place, isn’t it?” He looked over at Tamera. Her face was twisted – mouth wide open in disbelief. He grinned.

  “Okay, Tamera…get it all out.”

  “Preston, why is it that, all of a sudden, you want to have a child? Help me understand this because I’m totally lost. You didn’t mention anything about a child before we left Charlotte, didn’t say a word about it on the flight, and now, in front of my parents, you hint that you want a baby.”

  “Okay, I shouldn’t have said it in the presence of your parents since we hadn’t talked about it yet, but yes, I want a baby.”

  “Why?”

  “Because I want a baby. I always wanted children.”

  “But, Preston, you know I’m trying to get my business off the ground and—”

  “We’re an entity, remember?”

  She blew a breath. “Even still—”

  “You work from home, Tamera. You’re free to roam about and quite frankly, I think you need to do more with your time instead of agonizing over restaurant reviews.”

  “Agonizing? I don’t agonize over reviews.”

  “You do, but that’s another topic for another day. Right now, we’re talking about babies. Since you work from home anyway, I think transitioning into motherhood will be easy for you.”

  “And so you expect me to raise the baby while you’re always gone. You can barely make it home to have dinner with me, Preston. I don’t think we should be discussing having children until we get a handle on our schedules.”

  Preston opened the door to get out of the car, then walked around to the passenger side and opened the door for her. Extending his hand to hers, he said, “Let’s agree to disagree and pick this conversation up a later time.”

  “Good idea,” she said, hoping later meant like three years later but given his stance on the matter, she was certain it would be sooner than that.

  Chapter 15

  -*- Dilvan -*-