"It's not something I wanted to talk about. Some things are best forgotten. When I was raped," May's voice dropped, "the cops went to my house to question my father. The men who hurt me claimed that I was known in the community as being easy, and that I had an open door policy at my house. The police report indicates that my father called me a whore, amongst other things, and said I deserved everything I got. That opened up an investigation on him."
"Oh baby, I am so sorry," Caine whispered.
"Damn it, May," Layton looked away to hide the emotion on his face. "I must have embarrassed the living hell out of you when I made you buy new clothes. I am so sorry."
"You didn't know. And you were trying to be nice. There are just some things best forgotten, you know?" May shrugged.
"I knew about the exchange between her father and the police," Sri said with a sigh. "In fact, one of the officers came directly to me to tell me what had occurred. That was what allowed me to get her placed in the lake house under a protection clause. I deemed her home life dangerous for her physically, emotionally and mentally, and kept her from having to face her attackers during the trial. The judge did not even blink when he approved it, and promised to do whatever he could to help her. You know him, Layton. Larry Clemmons."
"Isn't he the bench for Wichita Falls County? I thought he just did family court."
"He presides over anything involving sexual offenses, too. He knew you. Intimately."
"Yeah, well he and I have had some head banging in the past. The old man called me stubborn, pig-headed and full of hot air."
"It sounds like he was being nice," Caine chuckled.
"He was not the one who pronounced sentence, although he does handle the Court of Appeals. The third assailant is scheduled to present before him in three weeks. I made the 'professional suggestion' that May needed to have the opportunity to testify in order to experience closure. I did not have her attend the original trial because she was so distraught," Sri added. "That was one reason I wanted to get together with her. I needed to see how she is doing psychologically with her new lifestyle."
"Are you shitting me? That son of a bitch is trying to get out of this?" Layton fumed.
May paled. "That would mean I'd have to see him again."
"Yes, sweetheart, it does. You need to let the court know how much his actions affected your life. If you don't," Sri squeezed her hand, "he could get out on a warning."
"But he raped me!" May felt tears filling her eyes. "How could they just ignore that?"
"I'll take care of this," Layton announced. "Maybelle, I swear to you that he will never touch another woman again. You have my word."
"Layton, you can't make a promise like that unless you intend to shoot the bastard through the head," Caine said, his own anger seeping through.
"I'm good at my profession for a reason. May, finish your dinner," Layton stood up. "I need to make a couple of calls."
"He's pissed," Sri observed, as the tall man stormed out of the room.
"Scary pissed." May shuddered. "I haven't seen him like this before. Not even when he busted me with the cigarettes."
"I would not want to be the unfortunate person who crossed his path right now. I know that look." Caine shook his head. "Pop used to call it 'death on two stilts'. Layton is an ugly customer when it comes to his passion. No one has a chance against him when he feels Texas justice is brewing."
"I gather Texas justice is different from the norm?" Sri asked.
"Texas justice is an eye for an eye," May explained, two tears dripping down her cheeks. "In small towns like ours, the judges tend to make their own rules. I just don't want him getting himself in any trouble because of me."
"But the legal system…"
"Texas justice prides itself on finding loopholes. Don't you worry, little one. Layton knows his stuff. Just be warned," Caine said, "he's going to be more protective and demanding than usual until this is resolved. Always remember that it is because he loves you so much."
"I know," May whispered. "You both do."
"What's wrong, sweetheart? Hey," Sri said, as May burst into tears. She held the sobbing girl to her ample bosom, and stroked her hair as she rocked her. "Talk to me, baby."
"I can't choose," May wept.
"Choose? Caine?"
"We want to marry her, but the law won't permit a polygamous relationship," he sighed. "So we are leaving it up to her."
"Are you serious? Why in the world would you make this child go through that? Don't you see how it's hurting her?" Sri scolded.
"Yes, but…"
"But nothing! May is not that heartless bitch who crushed the two of you! Oh, I want to just…"
"Ow! Why did you do that?" Caine asked, rubbing the back of his head where Sri had slapped him.
"To knock some sense into your brain. This is going to stop right here and now. May? You don't have to marry either one of them if you don't want to."
"But I do!" May wept, "I want them both. If I chose one, it hurts the other one and I can't do that to them, or to me."
"Why is marriage an issue here? I don't understand its necessity."
"It's just to protect her in case anything ever happens to either of us."
"Is that the only reason? A will can provide that." Sri frowned.
"Because we want to claim her as ours," Layton said, reentering the room. "We want her to have our name, and to have everyone know that she is ours. We want to eliminate any question that she is part of us. Ow! Don't hit me."
"I see." Sri pointed her finger at Layton. "You boys think that testosterone is more important than this child's emotional health."
"It has nothing to do with testosterone," Layton growled, rubbing the back of his head.
"No? So the Neanderthal mentality of 'me caveman own woman' is a moot point?" Sri countered, narrowing her eyes.
"Auntie Sri, I do want their last name, but from both of them," May said meekly. "I just can't be the one who chooses."
"You heard the girl. The only way that is going to happen is if she marries one of us. Instead of us fighting over which one gets that privilege, we are leaving it to her. Stop it!" Layton yelled, as Sri clouted him again.
"Are you so blind that you can't see the forest for the trees? There are other means of accomplishing this desire that do not require such a ridiculous tactic."
"Marriage is not ridiculous," Caine said moodily. "We are both firm believers in the institution."
"Ah, the sanctity of marriage as two brothers share the same woman under the guise of a husband and a casual roommate. That whole scenario is a contradiction in itself, isn't it?" Sri commented. "Don't either of you look at me like that. You know I am one hundred percent supportive of your relationship with May, and the lifestyle that you live. You are just approaching the whole concept from the wrong direction, and it's going to end up burning all of you in the ass."
"So, doctor, you think you have a better idea?" Layton asked sarcastically.
"As a matter of fact, counselor, I do." Sri stared back at him. "If you can cool your jets and pull your head out of your ass long enough to listen, I will tell you what I suggest."
May's mouth hung open in shock. No one ever spoke to Layton like that! She looked up at Sri with newfound respect. "I'm listening. Can you tell me?"
"I sure can, darling. Let's get away from these walking dildos, and see what you think about my idea."
May glanced back at them, winked and stuck out her tongue. She then shot them a birdie behind her back as she walked away with her hand in Sri's.
"She didn't!" Layton sputtered.
"I believe she just did," Caine answered. "Little monster. Both of them."
"You're going over my knee next, Sri!" Layton shouted. "I'll show you what a swat is supposed to feel like!"
Sri squeezed May's hand and shouted back, "When you grow a set of balls like mine, go ahead and try it!"
"Wow, you are brave," May said in awe.
"No, just stubbor
n. I was raised in India, and had to fight to be allowed to stand on my own two feet. You learn how to fight back wisely when you are the only girl with six brothers." She patted May's bed as she sat down. "Climb on up and tell me what you think about my idea. You have to promise me something, though."
"What?"
"If you like it, I need you to go to the trial. This is why…"
***
Sri's ideas helped May shine a brand new light on her future, but the young woman still lamented over the belief that she had to choose one of the Marshall boys over the other. She confessed that the fear of hurting them sickened her, and that it was an all-consuming worry that she could not shake.
"I feel like I am betraying them. I don't want them to hurt each other because of me. That's happened to them before, with that other woman. Layton said that I could accidentally hurt them because that is what people do. I don't want to be that person. I love them too much," May said sadly, clutching the stuffed toy elephant that Sri had bought for her while visiting her family in New Delhi.
Sri sighed as she listened to the girl's anguish. "I know it seems overwhelming, but I want to reassure you that everything will work out and you will have these two gorgeous, giving men to love forever. And they will have you. I know that the situation from their past bothers you…"
"It scares me. I'm so afraid of being compared to her."
"I honestly don't think you have a reason to be concerned about that. You are a caring, genuine human being without an agenda. She was not. They learned a valuable lesson when they went through that horrible relationship, and I trust that neither will ever allow themselves—or each other—to make the same mistakes again. Now, I am going to tuck you snugly into bed, sing you an old Hindi lullaby, and tell you a bedtime story that I want you to take to heart."
"No one has ever told me a bedtime story."
"I need to have a long talk with your daddy and your uncle. They are being neglectful in their duties when they forego something as important as a bedtime story. I might even have to pop them upside the head again."
"That was funny. It made me sniggle."
"Sniggle? Like in catching an eel?" Sri looked confused.
"No! Like in snickering and giggling at the same time. I like to make up my own words."
"You are adorable. Okay, here we go. When I was a little girl, my mother used to tell me stories from the album of Panchatantra. They always had a meaning of some sort, much like the parables and fairy tales told to children in your culture. For some reason, this was one of my favorites. Not because it's a particularly exciting or happy story, but because it made an impact on me and helped me look differently at my life," Sri said, snuggling next to May on the bed.
"Once upon a time, there lived a bird named Bharunda, who lived on a huge Banyan tree along the bank of a powerful river. He stayed to himself because, unlike other birds, he had two necks and two heads. These heads, though, shared a stomach. Much like your boys and how they share you, yes?"
"Uh huh," May nodded, enthralled. "How come the bird didn't have two names, though?"
"That question goes forever unanswered, my darling. Maybe because the heads were so alike that no one could tell them apart."
"I can tell Layton and Caine apart, easy."
"Can you? Which one loves you more?"
"They both love me the same. You can't compare." May looked confused.
"Exactly. Their heads are identical when it comes to the love they share for you. Understand?"
"Ohhh…"
"So, one day, Bharunda was wandering on the banks of the lake and found a delicious looking golden-red fruit. One of the two heads said, 'Oh, what a fruit! I am sure the heavens have sent it just for me. I am so lucky!'" May giggled as Sri exaggerated her accent. "He started eating the fruit with immense pleasure, all the while exclaiming that it was the most delicious fruit he had ever eaten.Hearing this, the other head said, 'Oh, dear brother, let me also taste the fruit you are praising so much.'"
"I can't ever imagine the boys talking like that. Layton would not ask, he would just take it," May giggled.
"I am certain he would," Sri laughed, kissing the top of her head. "Just remember that this story isn't about your boys. It is about human nature, and teaches us about our carnal desires. If we know about those, then we have the ability to control them. Let me finish, okay?"
"K. Sowry."
"Well, would you believe that the first head laughed? He said, 'you silly head! Don't you know that we have only one stomach and that the fruit will go there, no matter which one of us eats it? It makes no difference, then, whether it is you or me eating this fruit, but since I am the one who found it, I have the first right to eat it!'"
"How mean! No, this story is definitely not about my boys." May shook her head.
"The other head grew silent. He was so disappointed in his brother and the kind of selfishness he had shown. It bothered him very, very much. So much that his sadness began to turn to anger."
"That poor head! Why did the other act so mean?"
"Because that is how human nature works. When one person has something the other wants, he doesn't always think of the consequences that come from not sharing." Sri tweaked May's nose and then kissed her cheek. She continued. "Many days had passed when the other head, the one who had been hurt by his brother's selfishness, found a tree bearing poisonous fruits. He took the poisonous fruit and told the first head, 'you deceitful fellow, I will eat this poisonous fruit and avenge your insult which you have done to me!'The first head yelled, 'No! I beg you! Please, don't eat this poisonous fruit! We share a common stomach and if you eat it, we both will die.' Why are you giggling?"
"Your voices makes it sound so dramatic, like when Caine gets a splinter."
Sri laughed and continued. "The other head replied, 'Shut up, you fool! I was the one who found this fruit and I can eat it if I wish to.' The first head started crying. 'I'm sorry for my selfishness. I will share next time, just don't eat the poison fruit. I beg of you to please forgive me!'"
May held her breath, waiting to see what happened next. Did he forgive the first head or did he act spitefully? "Well? Did he forgive him?"
"No."
"I don't wanna hear the rest." May covered her ears with her hands.
Sri gently pried them away and kissed her palms. "We can't hide from the things in this world, my love. But we can learn from them and change the course of events. Yes, in the original story, the one my mother told to me, the head ate the fruit, and they both died because they were too prideful and stubborn to put the other's needs before themselves. Like your boys when they had that other person in their lives, they acted like the two heads and nearly killed their relationship. But they were smart enough to learn their lesson, and have come to love you more than their own selfish desires. Their desire for you to choose is coming from an unselfish place, even though the whole concept is ludicrous."
"So they don't really know how much it hurts me?"
"I think they do now. Even though they are both brilliant in the mind, they are still susceptible to the same weaknesses as any other person. They will do anything to save this common bond they share with each other. Trust them, and trust me. I will see it happen for all of you. You see, my sweet May, the moral of this story is that the sharing of a good thing with others is always good."
"Will we live happily ever after?"
"If I have anything to do with it, absolutely. You have my word, even if it means having to kick Layton's ass." Sri chuckled.
"That would be fun to watch," May giggled back.
"One more quick story, and then to sleep with you. Once upon a time, there was a sweet little princess who had been hurt by some mean, ugly, renegade trolls. She was very fortunate in that she had a fairy godfather come to her rescue," Sri said softly, playing absently with a strand of May's blond hair. "He knew that she needed to be protected from being hurt by more evil creatures of the land, and found a place where she could hid
e until she was big and strong enough to take care of herself. In the meantime, the magistrate of the lands, knowing of the calamity that had befallen the little princess, made it so she could live in peace until such time as a pair of fearless knights were found to stand watch over her.
"Well, her fairy godfather had two strapping, and very handsome, sons. One was gentle and caring, and the other, a grumpy beast." She paused as May giggled. "He had raised his boys to complement one another in their strengths and their weaknesses. He also knew that they carried a big secret in their hearts. The love they had for each other dictated that they both share a special lady between them. Even though this desire was not the normal thing seen in their village, their father loved his boys and wanted them to be the happiest men on earth. Instinctively, he also knew that his sons would provide all the protection the beautiful little princess would ever need. He approached the magistrate and charmed him with his words, convincing the governing officials of the land that the princess would forever be protected if she was given to his two sons as their ward."
Sri paused and looked away for a moment. She then took a deep breath. "The sons were not aware of their father's actions. In fact, he left this world only days before he had planned to tell them. He did, however, leave them a letter."
"What did the magistrate say about the princess becoming their ward?" May was growing excited.
"When the fairy godfather flew away, the land went into mourning. His request has not been touched since. But, unbeknown to the princess and her two beaus, he had put a fairy godmother in his place. She promised to wave her magic wand and work her spells until that day comes when the princess truly belongs to her handsome guardians, including inheriting their family name. The End."
"I like happy endings, Auntie Sri."
"We all do, my love. Now sleep. I am taking you to the Riverwalk tomorrow, just us girls."
"No boys? Really?" May wrinkled her nose.
"No boys allowed on this trip. Good night."
Two Guardians for Little May Page 16
