Strong Loving

by Niobia Bryant

  Zaria shook her head at the three four-wheelers sitting parked in a neat little row in the corner and knew they were for KJ, Karlos, and Jewel whenever they visited Grandparents’ Land—the most fun place in the world. Kael and Lisha made sure of it.

  She stopped a few feet from Kaleb and allowed herself a cursory look at him in a navy V-neck T-shirt, baggy denim shorts and slides. He had already been home, showered and changed out of his beloved uniform and boots. She could almost smell the scent of his spicy bath wash and deodorant reach her.

  Kaliya spotted her first and briefly took one hand off the handle to wave before she steered the vehicle towards her. It was bright pink, small, and the perfect size for her so Zaria’s fears were eased.

  “Look, Momma. Look what Papa Strong got us,” she said after she came to a stop and removed her helmet.

  Zaria stepped close to her, bending to press a kiss to her round cheek. “Whoo, you smell like outside,” she teased, playfully wrinkling her nose.

  Kaliya laughed. “We were waiting all day for Daddy to come to teach us how to ride and he did. He did!” she exclaimed with bright eyes as she bounced up and down on the seat.

  “He did? You sure?” she quipped.

  “Yeah, he’s right there, Momma. See?” she said, turning to point at him.

  Zaria followed her point and waved when she saw Kaleb standing there looking in their direction.

  Her whole body tingled just knowing his eyes were on her.

  It never went away. Never. That chemistry.

  “Sexy motherfu—” she whispered.

  “What you say, Momma?” Kaliya asked as she gave her a scrunched-up facial expression.

  “Nothing, baby,” Zaria said, shoving her hands into the pocket of her black uniform pants.

  She looked on as Kaleb waved his hands at the boys, motioning for them to follow him.

  Oh damn. Here he comes. Look at how he walks. Whooo. Big dick energy.

  She forced herself to look away.

  “That’s my pussy.”

  Her clit throbbed to life as if it agreed with her hot little memory of his heated declaration.

  “Hi, Zaria.”

  She turned and looked up at him. The sunshine glistened on his soft silver hair that was a perfect complement to his medium-brown complexion.

  Just fine for no damn reason.

  “Hey, Kaleb. How are you?” she asked pleasantly, aware of Kaliya’s eyes on them.

  “I’m well. Thank you,” he said.

  They both were so polite...and so fake.

  “Are you back working?” he asked.

  She looked down at her uniform and then back up at him. “Yes, I am, bartending at a restaurant during the day,” she replied, not sure why she felt the need to offer him clarity.

  He frowned.

  The boys rolled up on their four-wheelers—one black and the other royal blue—and took off their matching helmets.

  “Hi, Momma,” they both said offering smiles so like their father.

  And their uncles.

  And their grandfather.

  The Strong bloodline was...well, strong.

  “Don’t get off. Enjoy yourself. I just wanted to lay eyes on my babies enjoying their summer with the grandfolks,” she said, moving to walk around the front of Kaliya’s vehicle instead of taking the shorter distance past Kaleb.

  She didn’t miss that his frown deepened.

  “Give Momma kisses and funky hugs,” she said, pressing her lips to the foreheads of first Kalel and then Kasi. “Very funky hugs.”

  They laughed.

  “Zaria, can I talk to you for a sec?”

  She stiffened but then forced herself to relax as she stroked the cheeks of her sons. “Sure, Kaleb, that would be wonderful,” she replied with stilted words.

  Kasi frowned as he looked from one to the other. “Y’all acting weird,” he declared.

  “Yeah, Momma, you sound like a robot,” Kaliya added with a giggle.

  “Sure. Ka-leb. That. Would. Be. Won-der-ful,” Kalel mimicked.

  That tickled Kaliya who laughed and laughed. “Ooh. That was good, Ka-Ka. That was funny.”

  Kaleb chuckled.

  Zaria gave him a deadpan look before she turned back to the kids with an arched brow and pretended to laugh. “You know what else is funny?” she asked breathlessly, pressing a hand to her stomach with a fake chuckle. “All these trees with all these switches.”

  “Bye!” all three said, throwing up a hand, sliding on their helmets and slowly circling them before they sped away in the opposite direction.

  “Let’s go inside,” he said, extending his hand in an offer for her to proceed him. “With your little Red Lobster uniform on.”

  At his dry drawl, she didn’t look back or stop her stride across the front yard and up the steps.

  Kael was still rocking but Lisha must have gone inside. He fanned away a stray fly or gnat with a white hand towel. “How was work, Zaria?” he asked.

  “It’s one way to pass eight hours,” she said with a one-shoulder shrug.

  He laughed at that.

  “So y’all know she was working?” Kaleb asked, his tone disgruntled.

  “I only mind the business that pays me, son.”

  “I know that’s right, Pops,” Zaria said as Kaleb stepped past her and held the front door open wide.

  “Is everything okay with Cyrus?” she asked, ignoring her husband.

  Kael shook his head and continued methodically fanning. “He’s staying in Florida with his son. I think he’s sick,” he said.

  “The mystery son finally makes an appearance?” she asked, remembering the elderly man speaking of his son with a fondness for him but sadness at him not coming home more. “I hope it's nothing serious with Cyrus.”

  “Me too. Holtsville ain’t the same without him.”

  “No, it's not,” she agreed.

  “And he’s not the same without Holtsville. He’s steady callin’ folks complaining that he’s ready to come home,” Kael said with a chuckle. “He even tried to convince me to come pick him up.”

  “He needs to stay right there until he feels better,” Zaria said, not quite sure Kael wouldn’t make the ride for his friend.

  “For now,” was all that Kael said.

  Zaria turned and finally preceded Kaleb into the house. He shut the door and then stepped in front of her to lead them into the den.

  “You rather work then take money from me?” he asked, jumping right into it.

  “Nothing wrong with working, Kaleb,” she said, sitting her hands on her hips.

  “You didn’t work with your first husband.”

  She frowned. “I did once we broke up...like you and I are now,” she reminded him. “And is that what this is about? Are you trying to live up to my ex-husband? An idiot who is my ex-husband for a reason.”

  “Looks like I’m on the way to being your ex now too.”

  “For different reasons, but yes,” she agreed.

  He looked taken aback. “Am I an idiot, too?” he asked sardonically

  “Well... not wanting me to work but then holding it against because I didn’t work and then annoyed because I’m working to take care of myself and to take the pressure off you to take care of me while you’re fighting to save the ranch is a little idiotic,” she said holding up her index and thumb inches apart. “A little. Yeah.”

  He tilted his head to the side a bit and eyed her before he wiped his mouth with his hand, turned away from her, turned back to her, and then squinted as he stared at her again.

  “What, Kaleb?” she urged, seeing the desire to get something off his chest.

  “You used to run the dairy store and you never came back to it. If you were so interested in working then work on the farm,” he said, his voice rising as his eyes bugged and the veins in his neck stretched. “Work for us. Build with me for us. Put in the work for us. Hell, ask me about the farm. Talk to me about the farm. Give a damn about the farm that feeds us a
nd provides for us.”

  “Kaleb,” Lisha called from the kitchen. “I know you not using your outside voice inside my house?”

  “Huh?” he exclaimed as he threw his hands up in the air before he walked over to the hall. “Mama, you really gonna break my stride like that because I’m loud. I didn’t cuss. I’m not a fool—even though Kaeden thinks so. I’m just trying to make a point to my wife—she is still my wife because I ain’t got no papers—and you kinda stepped in the middle. Daddy putting hands on heart and giving speeches. You’re crying because you want us to work it out but what if this is the moment right here. The breakthrough. But you chin-checked me right in the middle of the moment because I’m loud, Mama? You couldn’t just let it go this one time. Just let me flow this one time and excuse me being loud, Mama?”

  Zaria covered her open mouth with her hand. Things could go left quickly. Where is this going now?

  Lisha came down the hall. “Kaleb,” she said calmly. So calm. Too calm.

  “Ma’am,” he answered, looking down at her.

  The front door opened and Kael stepped inside the foyer. “Hey, baby, the cobbler out the oven?” he asked.

  She leaned past Kaleb to eye her husband. “Yes,” she said, still tranquil. “Yes, it is.”

  “Come on the porch with me and tell me all about it while the kids talk in private,” he said, giving her a warm smile.

  Lisha cut her eyes up to Kaleb before looking back to her husband. “Yes, baby, I’m coming,” she said.

  “Come on,” Kael urged.

  She walked past Kaleb. “Your daddy saved you this one time,” she sarcastically mimicked him as she made a face.

  Zaria went still and had to bite down on her inner cheeks to keep from laughing. She couldn’t wait to fill everybody in. Why wasn’t I recording?

  Lisha stepped out onto the porch and Kael followed suit, closing the door.

  Kaleb looked down at the floor before he looked up at her again. “Go ahead and laugh.”

  She shook her head. “No, of course not,” she said, feigning a serious face.

  It was Kaleb who chuckled.

  Zaria joined him. “I thought Lisha was about to light that chin up,” she said.

  “Me too,” he admitted.

  They shared a look.

  “One time,” they said in unison before laughing again.

  “You know they can hear us on the porch?” Zaria asked.

  Kaleb strode up to her and took her hand to lead them out the den and down the hall to enter the restroom. He closed the door.

  It was just a half-bath and Zaria felt overwhelmed in the close confines with Kaleb’s large muscular frame in there with her. The spicy-sweet scent of him reached her. She treated herself to an inhale and had to fight not to grunt in pleasure.

  ‘This was a bad idea,’ she thought as they eyed each other.

  Their attraction for each other was bouncing off the walls.

  Zaria exhaled, looking for some relief from him. The smell of him. The sight of him. The memories...of him. And it. Every delicious, curved inch.

  “I came in here to talk but I can’t even think straight being this close to you,” he admitted.

  She warmed. Her pulse raced. Things jumped to life.

  “No, I am thinking...about the last time we were together,” he corrected. “How long has it been? You don’t want a little bit?”

  She shook her head.

  Liar.

  “It’s been five or six weeks,” he said, eying her from head to toe.

  “Six,” she offered with a slight tremble.

  His eyes darkened as he took note of the movement and took a step forward. She took one back.

  Kaleb smiled before he sat down on the commode. “Fine. No sex,” he said as held up his hands. “Let’s talk.”

  “Okay,” she agreed, leaning against the pedestal sink.

  “I want to say something but I don’t think you will like it...but it is the truth,” he began.

  “And what’s that?” she asked.

  “I did enjoy having Greyson Locke to talk to about farming,” he said. “I liked that she pulled on those boots, got right into the muck with all the men, and put in the work.”

  Her heart thundered at his admission. “Oh really?”

  He eyed her but she looked away.

  “Not because I wanted her there but because it reminded that I wanted you there working with me as a team. Talking things out. Hearing your opinion. Knowing you care about something that means a lot to me. Feeling like you appreciate what the lands provide for us,” he explained, his deep voice echoing in the small room.

  It was not an easy pill to swallow that another woman offered something to her husband that she hadn’t been providing. Zaria nearly choked on it. Her all too familiar insecurities rose up.

  “Greyson is more of the kind of woman you want than me?” she asked, pushing up off the sink and turning to stand before him as she stepped out of her pants and unbuttoned her shirt to expose the red lace bikini set she wore beneath the androgynous-looking uniform.

  He took in the sight of her, shaking his head in amazement.

  She liked it. She undressed for it. “Greyson is what you want?” she asked, knocking away his hand when he reached to palm between her thighs.

  “Hell no. I want you. Not her. You,” Kaleb insisted, pointing his finger at her heart.

  She straddled his hips and enjoyed the feel of his warm and strong hands cupping her bottom. She sighed when he captured one taut nipple into his mouth through the thin red lace. “Damn,” she gasped, guiding one of his hands under the rim of her panties.

  The doorknob turned. They froze.

  “I locked it,” he whispered to her as he licked circles on the side of her breast.

  She leaned back from him. “Stop!” she mouthed.

  He jerked her forward and locked her in place with his arms as he suckled one of her nipples into his mouth.

  She cupped the back of his head.

  “Who in the bathroom? I have to pee,” Kaliya said through the door.

  Zaria and Kaleb slumped against each other as they silently laughed.

  “I’m not letting my baby wet herself for a little nookie,” she said, rising from his lap to begin getting dressed.

  “Little?” he balked.

  “I’m coming out, Kaliya. Hold on one sec,” Zaria called to her.

  “Momma? Hurry, pleeeeease.”

  “Oh Lord,” she sighed, barely redoing the buttons of her shirt.

  She grabbed the doorknob but looked back at him to make sure he was straight. “Do not poke our baby girl in the eye with that,” she said, pointing at his erection tenting his shorts.

  He pulled his T-shirt down as much as he could to cover it. “It’s the momma I was trying to poke,” he muttered behind her as she opened the door.

  Kaliya did a doubletake at seeing both of them. “What y’all doing in here?” she asked even as she squeezed between their legs to enter the bathroom.

  As soon as they crossed the threshold little Kaliya closed the door and locked it.

  Click.

  Zaria finished buttoning and tucking her polyester white shirt inside her pants as they made their way back to the den. “Were you attracted to Greyson?” she asked, having had her ardor considerably cooled by their daughter.

  “No,” he insisted. “And she never showed me any interest either. It was all about farming and the article.”

  “Was it worth it? Did you like it?” she asked. “Was it good?”

  Kaleb was surprised. It showed on his face. “You didn’t read it?” he asked. “It came out two weeks ago.”

  “No, I didn’t read it,” she admitted.

  He frowned. “I didn’t handle my business problems the right way. Not at all. Not in the treatment of you, the kids, or even myself with the drinking—which I stopped by the way,” he said. “I can claim my role in where we went wrong but I promise you that I didn’t share a lot with y
ou because I didn’t think you wanted to hear or talk about it. I assumed you wanted nothing to do with it. Even when I introduced you to Greyson you cut me off before I could fully explain why this strange woman was in my office. You heard that she was a journalist and you were good. Remember?”

  As a matter of fact, she did recollect that moment.

  “Baby, this is Greyson Locke. She’s a journalist with The Agriculturist here to discuss—”

  “Nice to meet you, Mrs. Locke.”

  Zaria winced a bit. He was right. She had cut him off and then moments later she became focused on Mrs. Locke truly being a Miss.

  “Again, I’m wrong for not speaking up sooner about how I felt but can you honestly blame for how I felt?” he asked, his eyes serious as he spoke to her. “You were my soft place to put aside all that ego and bravado we need as men out in the world. And when that was gone, I felt I had nobody to expose deep things on my mind. Real talk. I needed you. There was nobody to turn to when you were the only one I wanted to turn to. I just felt like you didn’t care about any of it.”

  “Kaleb,” she said, taking a step towards him.

  This time he stepped back. “I should have said something. I’m a grown-ass man. I’m thirty-five years old. I know how to communicate. I put these expectations on you and never let you know that I did. I apologize for that. I’m sorry,” he said, pressing his hand flat against his chest.

  “Kaleb, it's not that I didn’t care. Running the dairy store was easy because I’m a shopper. I know about placement, what catches the eyes, a good price for things, but then I had Kasi and then the twins a few years later and I never went back to running the store because they became my focus,” she explained. “And with all the rest I’m lost sometimes, Kaleb. I didn’t grow up on a horse ranch like Bianca—who also became a vet, or have a dad and uncles who worked farms like Garcelle. Hell, even Jade is physical and active and loves the outdoors. Me? I don’t fit. I don’t know what to say or to ask. I’m confused by most of it. I just felt useless, especially when you all get together and start talking ranch? I just fade into the back and I guess I kept fading.”

  And that was the truth.