As Long As We Got Love

by Tina Martin

  “She must get that from her daddy,” Carmen said. She chuckled.

  “Or she could’ve gotten it from her aunt,” Tamera said, referring to herself.

  “Definitely,” Preston added. Pointing at Tamera, he said, “This one eats like she’s due for hibernation.”

  Tamera chuckled and slapped him on the arm. “Don’t listen to Preston. He knew what this was when he signed up.”

  Preston laughed. “Oh, really?”

  “Yes. You knew I was a foodie.”

  “I did. You have to respect a woman who ain’t scared to tear into a plate a food.”

  “And I’m definitely not scared,” Tamera said, then stuffed an egg roll into her mouth, biting it in half.

  Gabrielle smiled, then glanced over at Tyson as he walked to the kitchen, probably to prepare a plate. Moments later, he placed drinks on the table in front of her and leaned down to whisper in her ear, “I saw you didn’t have a drink for yourself and T.J., so I brought him some water. The tea is yours.”

  Gabrielle turned to the right to look at him, glancing at lips. She wanted to kiss the frustration away from him. Instead, she said, “Thank you.”

  “You’re welcome, baby. Is there anything else you need?”

  “Just you,” Gabrielle whispered.

  Tyson smiled warmly. “Let me go get some food. I’ll be right back.”

  “What was all that commotion about earlier?” Colin asked after summoning Padma off to the side.

  Padma wasn’t eating a thing. She was too worried to eat since learning of Eden’s pregnancy. Now, she was in the hospital. “Well, I just found out that Eden’s pregnant, she’s in the hospital for some reason and there must have been some kind of falling out with her and Dilvan based on all the yelling Charity was doing.”

  “Eden’s pregnant?”

  “I think so.” Padma drew in a breath. “I just wanted to get everybody together to have a good time and as soon as Dilvan arrived, it seemed everything started falling apart.”

  “Dear,” Colin said, holding her hands. “Look around. It looks like everyone is having a good time to me.”

  Padma took a moment to glance around the dining room. She saw her grandchildren eating to their heart’s content. Tyson had just taken Amryn from Gabrielle’s lap and sat next to her with his plate. Henry, Carmen and Destiny were all laughing about something. Tamera had just fed Preston a crab rangoon. The rest of the family, friends and guests were still in the kitchen, probably deciding what to put on their plates next since the food was bountiful and delicious. A smile came to Padma’s face.

  “See,” Colin said. “This reunion is a success. Now, here’s what I want you to do. Go to the hospital to see about Dilvan and Eden. I’ll take care of everything here until you return.”

  “Are you sure, Colin?”

  He leaned forward to kiss her lips. “Positive. Now, go and see about our grandbaby.”

  Padma smiled. “I love you.”

  “Love you too, dear.”

  Padma walked toward the stairs where she hurried to the bedroom to retrieve her purse. Then she quietly left the house.

  Chapter 22

  -*- Dilvan and Eden -*-

  Charity nearly took off in a sprint down the emergency room hallway looking for Eden’s room. The nurse had given her instructions on how to get there but her brain was so scattered, she wasn’t paying much attention.

  “Charity, it’s this way,” Heshan said, going left when Charity went right. Dilvan was on his heel, and now, since she realized she was heading the wrong way before, Charity was, too.

  “Here’s the room,” Heshan said.

  Charity snatched the curtain open and saw her sister lying there with an oxygen mask over her nose and an IV bag hanging next to her bed. “Eden.”

  Eden opened her eyes and smiled faintly at her sister.

  Charity smothered her in a hug and said, “Are you okay?”

  “Yeah. I’m okay.”

  “Thank God. I gotta call mom.”

  “No, don’t worry mom. I’m fine.” Eden’s eyes stretched open wider when she saw Dilvan step into the room a few seconds later. Was he normal today? How did he end up coming here with Charity?

  Dilvan walked around the bed to her right side and reached to touch her hand, but changed his mind, thinking the last thing she wanted right now was his touch, but then he went for it anyway and sat on the edge of the bed and asked, “Are you okay?”

  Eden nodded.

  “What about the baby?” Dilvan asked examining her, his heart racing as he glanced at her midsection, but she was covered with sheets and blankets. “Please tell me the baby is okay.”

  Eden nodded. “Yes. She’s okay.”

  “She? It’s a girl?” Dilvan asked.

  “Yes. It’s a girl.”

  Dilvan leaned over her, the side of his face touching hers as he fought himself not to give way to tears and get emotional but he couldn’t help it. Charity was right. He had been a jerk. “What happened?”

  “I was on the way home and when I pulled up in the driveway. I could hardly breathe. I called 9-1-1 and the ambulance brought me here.”

  “This is all my fault. I should’ve been there for you. I’m sorry, Eden. I’m so sorry, baby.”

  “We should give them some privacy,” Heshan said to Charity. He led her out into the hallway by the hand.

  Dilvan, still overcome with emotion, sat up a little so he could see Eden’s face when he said, “I’m sorry. I don’t want to keep hurting you. I do love you, Eden.”

  “I know you do, but you don’t know how to handle your moods and your medication and I’ve tried to help you but—”

  “Don’t give up on me,” he interrupted her to say. “I’m not perfect by any means, but please, Eden. Don’t give up on me. I do want this baby—my daughter—and I want you. I want us to be a family.”

  “Are you sure that’s what you really want, Dilvan? When I told you I was pregnant, you walked out on me.”

  “I didn’t walk out on you.”

  “Then what would you call it?”

  “I—I didn’t know how to process it.”

  “But you know how to process it now?”

  “Yes. I’ve had time to think about what you said and you’re right—I haven’t been myself, haven’t been taking my pills and I haven’t been consistent in controlling this disorder. I’m still mad about it—still asking myself why me when my focus should’ve been on you and my daughter. I want us to be together. I want us to raise our daughter—our children—together.”

  “That’s all I ever wanted, Dilvan,” Eden said, misty-eyed. “Come here,” she requested, needing to feel his face pressed up against hers again. And when his bearded face touched hers, she felt a shock of static like electricity connect them. “I love you, Dilvan.”

  “I love you, Eden,” he said, embracing her, relieved that she and the baby were okay. “Now, call the nurse in here and tell her to unhook all this stuff so I can take you home.”

  “It’s not that simple. I feel better, but I still need these fluids. I was a little dehydrated, too.”

  “Okay, but I promise that when we do leave, I’m going to take good care of you.”

  “I’m going to hold you to that,” she told him.

  “Oh my goodness! Are you okay, Eden?” Padma said, rushing into the room in a panic.

  “Padma, what are you doing here?” Eden asked.

  “The reunion can wait. I came to check on you and my grandbaby,” Padma said, drowning Eden with a hug.

  “You know about the baby?” Eden asked.

  “Sorry, sis. I think I sort of let the cat out of the bag,” Charity said as she stepped back into the room. “I was so mad at Dilvan, I just snapped.”

  “Yeah, she almost assaulted me,” Dilvan said.

  “Don’t get it twisted. I still want to choke you, but being that Eden is smiling, I take it you two are back on good terms.”

  Dilvan looked at Eden and said, �
��Yes, we are. I know I messed up and I know this bipolar journey will be a constant battle for me, but I need all of you to hold me accountable. I have a daughter to raise and a wife to support and love. I have my own little family.”

  Padma smiled and placed a hand over her heart in awe that her youngest son was soon going to be a father and was finally learning how to be a man.

  Heshan smiled too, wrapping his arms around Charity. Something told him his little brother was going to be alright.

  Chapter 23

  -*- Tyson and Gabrielle -*-

  The kids had fallen asleep in the car, so it was an easy job of getting them to bed when they arrived home. The drive had been tense even though they both tried to make small talk about how nice day one of the reunion had turned out and how they were glad Eden was okay. But the elephant that rode with them in the car was now in the room.

  Gabrielle didn’t bring up the argument although she wanted to. She walked to the kitchen to get a bottle of water and when she closed the refrigerator door, Tyson startled her – standing right there. How had she not heard him walk up? Probably because she was so engrossed in her thoughts. With her heart thumping, her breaths pumping out quickly, she said in a panicked tone, “Tyson, where did you come from. I—”

  Before she could say a word more, Tyson swooped down on her mouth like a hungry lion, filling hunger pangs that all the food from the reunion couldn’t satisfy. With one hand palming her neck, the other working the ponytail loose on her head, he drove his tongue inside of her mouth, eating away at her whimpers. He focused on kissing her with skill – with the intensity of a man bent on making an impression. Granted he did that every time they touched, but she needed to know tonight, here and now, that she was the most important person in his life.

  He tore his lips away from her, and while still cradling her neck in his palm, he bore down on her with his eyes. “How many times have we made love in this kitchen?” he asked, nipping at her lips as he waited for an answer. “How many?”

  “I can’t count them. It’s been so many times.”

  Tyson kissed her again, then looked at her. “Today took me by surprise. Your reaction to this restaurant idea, I mean. It surprised me, Bri, because I thought you knew how I felt about you. But since you’re still having a hard time figuring it out, let me be clear. You, Gabrielle Alexander, come before everything else in my life. No one or nothing is above you. You should know that by now, baby.”

  “I do know that, but I don’t want to stand in the way of your dreams.”

  “I’ll say it again because apparently, you didn’t hear me. You, Gabrielle Alexander, come before everything else in my life.”

  Gabrielle stared into his mesmerizing eyes. Drawn in by desire, she rose to her tiptoes and parted her lips as she joined her mouth to his for a kiss.

  Tyson held her close to him, backing her up to the stainless steel refrigerator as his mouth explored hers greedily. He lifted her up, thought about laying her on the sofa, but opted for the safer choice – their bed. He took off her clothes like he’d performed a magic trick, lowering his head to the pillowy softness of her chest. She moaned her pleasure – goodness she could never get used to his mouth all over her body. His lips playing catch and release with hers before he nipped at her earlobe, down to her neck. He flicked his tongue back and forth across her collarbone while feeling the softness of her. Every moan that ascended from her mouth pleased him. Helped him make his point. And then he lowered his hand to touch the dampened silkiness of her, feeling her body tense in response. He kept his eyes glued to her face to see her reaction to his touch. She looked to be somewhere between heaven and ecstasy as she moaned to endure the sweet torture he was delivering to her. Her stomach quivered profusely, and she bit down on her lower lip while she writhed beneath his hands.

  Gabrielle felt his mouth on her and immediately arched her back up off of the bed to which Tyson looked up at her and asked, “Where do you think you’re going?” He pulled his shirt up over his head. “Huh?”

  Panting, Gabrielle uttered something indecipherable as she watched Tyson remove his khakis and the black boxers he had on to release the swell of himself. She took a moment to appreciate his beautifully built body as she always did before they made love – the broad shoulders that would be her anchor, a chest so massive and chiseled, abs that begged to be touched and an arousal that epitomized male perfection.

  Settling between her legs, he inched his way into her desire. Slowly. Seductively. Carefully. Her body was delicate to him and he never desired to be rough with her. He wanted her to enjoy lovemaking as much as he did. He gasped when she’d taken all of him, then lowered his head to hers, taking kisses before he looked at her and said, “Gabrielle, open your eyes.”

  She obeyed, looking at his handsome face. The connection they shared was so much more than physical. So much more.

  He smiled.

  She smiled back.

  “I love you more than life, Gabrielle. I never want you to think anything is more important than my family. You hear me?”

  “Yes, Tyson,” she whispered.

  “I’d give my life for you, so what’s a few million dollars?” He dipped his head for a kiss. “I’ll answer that. Nothing. But you, my sweet wife—you are everything.”

  “Oh, Tyson,” Gabrielle said, framing his face in her hands. “I love you so much.”

  “I love you, too,” he said, moving his body to convey in actions the love he’d expressed in words.

  Gabrielle, holding onto those thick shoulders she loved, lost herself in pure ecstasy, shifting her legs so her feet rested at the back of his calves while he moved his body to drive her to satisfaction. And when a moan of pleasure sung from her lips, his own pleasure came in waves as he grunted into the pillow beneath her head.

  Chapter 24

  -*- The Reunion, Day 2 -*-

  Day two of the reunion proved to be better than day one. Maybe people behaved better when they dressed in formal attire, or it could’ve been the fact that Padma asked everyone to be on their best behavior for the day. Whatever the case, all was well at the Alexander estate.

  At one in the afternoon, most of the guests and the family were there – except for Dilvan and Eden who were due to arrive at any moment now. Eden was released from the hospital at ten o’clock last night and the doctor told her to rest. But how could she rest when the family was here? Today was the last day of the reunion and she wanted to see them all before they left.

  Dilvan parked in the driveway, then walked around the car to open the door for Eden, taking her hand and helping her out of the car.

  “Thank you, Dilvan.”

  “You’re welcome, Eden. You look beautiful in that dress, by the way,” he told her. She wore a sparkly, red knee-length dress – still couldn’t tell she was pregnant.

  “And you look handsome in that tux,” she told him. He wore a red bowtie to match her dress. “I had to step it up a notch to blend in with my spectacular wife,” he said, looking at her from head to heel.

  “Pretty soon, I won’t be able to fit into this thing,” she told him.

  “Yeah, and you’d still be my gorgeous wife.”

  At the top of the stairs, standing on the porch now, Dilvan hesitated before opening the door. He looked at Eden and asked, “Are you ready?”

  “I am.”

  He leaned forward and took a gentle kiss from her lips. Then he said, “Let’s do this.”

  Padma nearly screamed with happiness when Eden walked inside with her braids hanging long draped with a gold halo headband that matched her earrings. She walked up to her, embracing her. “I’m so glad you could make it, Eden, I have a spot for you right over here.”

  Dilvan smirked. His mother didn’t say a word to him, but what did he expect? Eden stole the show and rightly so. She was the gorgeous beauty with the next Alexander grandbaby on the way. All the women surrounded her, congratulating her.

  Heshan walked up to Dilvan and said, “Y’al
l made it.”

  “We did.” Dilvan slid his hands into his pockets. “And my woman’s happy again.”

  “Are you going to keep her that way?”

  “I’m certainly going to try my best.”

  “I can’t believe my little brother’s having a baby.”

  “A daughter.” Dilvan smiled at the thought of it, but his smile quickly faded as his eyes caught sight of Henry mugging him. “I think I should say something to Mr. Robinson.”

  Heshan frowned. “Ugh, no you shouldn’t.”

  “Why not?”

  “I think that’s obvious, Dilvan. Plus, mother said no drama today.”

  “There won’t be any drama. I’ll be right back,” Dilvan said, then headed in Henry’s direction. His palms secreting sweat, he rubbed his hands together and said as he approached, “Mr. Robinson, I know you hate my guts. I see the way you look at me and I understand why you hate me.”

  “You know all of that, and yet, you still waltz over here,” Henry said standing.

  “Yes, because I—I want to apologize to you, Sir, for the way I treated your daughter. I’m going to be a father soon and I couldn’t imagine someone doing to my daughter what I did to yours. I’m truly sorry.”

  “An apology doesn’t change the fact that I would kill you where you stand if it I wasn’t worried about disrespecting Padma and Colin’s house. So do I accept our apology? Yes. I accept it. Would I end your life if I thought I could get away with you? You better believe it. Now, get outta my face, boy,” Henry said sharply, still wanting to grab him.

  Dilvan turned around and walked away.

  Tyson kept his eyes trained on Dilvan. Medication or no medication – he wasn’t about to let him nowhere near Gabrielle.

  Heshan watched as Charity came out of her heels to dance with the kids. She moved and circled her body, supposedly trying to teach them how to dance but it appeared they were teaching her their moves. Charity glanced up at him and smiled. She loved children, he knew, especially since she’d opened up a school and seeing her this happy had him questioning whether he was making a big deal about her working hours. She loved her job, and she had every right to pursue it. The only issue was her schedule.