Broken (Endurance)

by Thomas, April

  "Duh!" Renee replied, frustrated with his tone.

  "We’ll just stand outside of the village." Samuel looked at his watch. "She normally reaches the path to the village at seven fifteen."

  "You know her schedule?" Renee asked, slightly horrified that he knew so much about her timing.

  "So what?" Samuel replied feeling embarrassed.

  "A little creepy if you ask me," Renee said, folding her arms across her chest.

  "We have an hour to kill. What do you want to do?" Samuel felt frustrated.

  "Let's find a quite place to go over this plan again. I really want to make sure I get it right," Renee answered.

  While Samuel and Renee found a secluded location to go over their schemes, Mei sat in her Bible study class reviewing the book of Proverbs with professor Matthew Goodings.

  The professor believed the book of proverbs should be read repeatedly until the words entered her soul and she began to understand the teachings, to gain wisdom, insight and understanding and to be able to fully comprehend the complete bible.

  Mei was learning a lot about herself. She could feel herself growing as she studied. Class ended a little later than normal tonight. Students had a lot more questions about wisdom after learning wisdom was created before the earth was formed. Studying the book of Proverbs was opening their minds in so many ways. The professor shed light on key words in the book of Proverbs concerning wisdom, taking them past a superficial understanding of the word. He taught them that wisdom was like a divine entity that God created before earth.

  This new knowledge brought so many questions. It was a deeper understanding of many things and some students understood while others struggled to accept these new teachings.

  Mei gathered her stuff as thoughts of holding her son and being with Max filled her mind. She was eager to get back to the hut and discuss with Max what she’d learned in class. Mei loved talking to Max about almost anything. They seemed to be on the same page with so many things and they enjoyed learning from each other.

  She’d just reached the path that lead to her village when she saw Samuel and Renee going at it.

  Samuel held Renee's head passionately as he kissed her forcefully. Renee had her hands slipped into his back pockets. Mei laughed to herself as she walked by, happy to see the two people who annoyed her most would now be out of her hair.

  She made her way to her hut and was happy to be greeted with the intoxicating aroma of a fresh home cooked meal. Mei was happy she wasn't the only cook in the family. With Max cooking on the nights she had late classes, life was so much easier.

  "Look, Mommy’s home," Max said to his son who was playing with his toys in the middle of the hut.

  Uriel became excited and began to walk then opted to crawl.

  Mei rushed over to pick her son up. "Baby, you’re going to hurt your knees." She dusted off his knees

  "When we go home we should get him some baby knee pads." Max walked over and kissed his wife.

  "I think we have some in storage from that baby shower," Mei replied. "So what's for dinner, sexy?"

  "Chicken soup with dumplings."

  "Mmm, Daddy made dumplings." Mei tickled her son. "Max, you think he will choke on it like last time?" Mei asked, remembering back to a hair-raising moment when Uriel had almost turned blue from choking.

  "We will give him really small pieces and, besides, he has some Trini in him. He can handle choking on a dumpling," Max joked.

  "Max, that’s not funny. We could have lost our baby." Mei laughed while kissing her son's forehead.

  "I know, just teasing." Max smiled. "Let's say grace and eat."

  "Yeah, let's pray your son doesn't choke on one of your killer dumplings."

  Max laughed at Mei's remark as he pulled out a chair for her next to Uriel's high chair. After saying grace they heard a knock at the door. Max stood to answer the door while Mei continued to feed Uriel who was eating eagerly.

  Max opened the door and burst with excitement on seeing his uncle and Makayla. "Oh, my goodness. When did you get here?" Max yelled. He gave his uncle and Makayla a hug.

  Mei turned around and yelled, dropping Uriel's baby fork and running over to hug Makayla and Tamarius. "What are you guys doing here?" Mei asked excitedly.

  "Did Dad come?" Max asked, looking past them.

  "Come in," Mei said,

  Neither of them gave Makayla or Tamarius a chance to answer any questions.

  "We just sat down to eat," Max said.

  "Well, I am impressed." Tamarius looked around his nephew’s hut. Max had done a surprisingly good job providing a safe and secure home for his family. His heart swelled with pride as he looked at the craftsmanship of the handmade furniture. "Max, you and Mei did all this?"

  "Except for the bathroom, yes," Max replied.

  Makayla was already hugging and kissing Uriel who just wanted to get back to eating.

  Mei caught sight of Makayla's wedding ring and her jaw dropped.

  "Cuz, you have a boulder on your finger."

  "What?" Makayla said blushing as she placed Uriel back in his highchair.

  "Don't play coy with me, woman. I was the only Mrs. Martinez in this family of men."

  "I don't know what you’re talking about." Makayla laughed.

  "Unk, let me see your hand," Mei demanded.

  Tamarius lifted his right hand, teasing Mei. "Why?" he said, laughing.

  "You guys got married?" Max yelled, looking at his uncle’s left hand and seeing his wedding band.

  "When?" Mei asked, grabbing Makayla's left hand.

  "October sixteenth," Makayla replied, smiling.

  "Congratulations!" Max and Mei yelled.

  "Wow, is this why you guys came here?" Max asked.

  "No, your dad wanted to surprise you by picking you guys up instead of taking the rough travel back home," Tamarius replied. "He is tied up at home and couldn't make it."

  "Yeah," Max was a little disappointed that his father was too busy to come and see him. Even though he was a man with his own family, he still longed for his father’s attention like any child.

  "What am I sensing?" Tamarius asked, observing his nephews body language.

  "I’m fine, Unk," Max lied.

  "No, you’re not. You’re disappointed your father didn't come?"

  "A little, but I’m used to it. I have you, right?" Max smiled as he looked at his uncle.

  "But, I’m not Dad..."

  "It's no big deal, really." Max walked over to sit on a bench.

  Tamarius followed and sat next to him. "Max, your father loves you. I love you. Your father wanted to be here and is eagerly awaiting your arrival back home. Nothing is more important than you."

  "Then why is he not here?" Max asked, frustrated.

  "I don't think he realized you would have felt this way or he would have come himself, even if he had to drag his work with him."

  "We don't talk much," Max admitted.

  "I think he’s afraid to say something wrong and lose whatever relationship he has with you now," Tamarius answered.

  "Never looked at it that way."

  "He’s not perfect and he’s made some mistakes, especially where you’re concerned. Don't think he doesn't love you or isn't interested in your life."

  "I know he does."

  "We are all proud of you and Mei. Your father could have put you and your wife up to live in some other place on your own, but he wanted you to come home and live in the mansion."

  "I thought that Grandpa made it so that we had to live in the mansion," Max replied.

  "Only one Martinez must live in the house to keep it and maintain it."

  "So we don't have to live there?" Max questioned.

  "Do you want to move out?" Tamarius asked.

  "No, I missed out on a family and Mei missed out on a loving family unit and our son is always surrounded by love and support. It's how Mei and I wish we had grown up. I guess it's kinda healing, experiencing it through our son."


  "Good, and now our God made family is only getting larger," Tamarius said, gazing at his wife who was talking to her cousin as they both played with Uriel.

  "I'm happy for you, Unk." Max smiled at his uncle.

  Tamarius smiled as he patted his nephew on his shoulder. "What's for dinner? It smells good."

  "Chicken dumpling soup." Max got up to fix Makayla and Tamarius a bowl.

  Tamarius walked over to Uriel. "Hey, little nephew, how are you?"

  Uriel smiled. Recognizing his uncle, he put his arms out for Tamarius expecting to be picked up. Tamarius lifted him out of the highchair and walked across the room with him, talking to him gently as he hugged him.

  The remainder of the evening went by with everyone joking and laughing about life at King Solomon College. Tamarius and Makayla decided to leave once Uriel fell asleep in his uncle’s arms.

  The day came for the Martinez clan to head home for the holidays. They prepared to leave a day early as Max and Mei wanted extra time to go shopping before returning to college after Thanksgiving break. Samuel and Renee watched jealously as Max and Mei left the village with Tamarius and Makayla, looking like the perfect family. Renee didn't know what to do with herself. Their plan didn't really seem to do anything but cause her to develop new feelings for Samuel.

  "Sam, I think I will take you up on that offer." Renee turned to him.

  "Hua, what?" Samuel replied, not remembering the offer he’d made for her to come home with him for Thanksgiving break.

  "Thanksgiving break, you idiot." She now felt stupid for asking.

  "Oh, yeah, sure it will be fun," he mumbled as he watched Mei walking away with her son in her arms. He wished in his heart she were holding his son.

  "I'm going to head up to the main office and call my mom to let her know." Renee walked off. She didn't want to see Samuel ogling Mei any longer.

  Aboard the plane Tamarius looked out to see the sun working its way into the horizon. Their plane took off from the private runway on the island and Tamarius sat back, relieved to get a break from all the meetings. He’d get to enjoy the company of his family.

  He smiled at his nephew who was buckled securely in his car seat. He didn’t seem happy about it and didn’t respond to his mom and dad’s attempts to calm him down. He was not having it. Max and Mei could do nothing but shake their heads and let him cry.

  It would be a long flight back home. Tamarius had spoken to Maxwell before they’d left and he wanted him to be there to pick them up. Tamarius wanted Maxwell to speak with his son and start repairing their relationship. Many thoughts filled Tamarius' mind as he worried about his family and his wife. In the end, all he could do was put it in God's hands.

  Makayla looked at Tamarius who stared intently out of the airplane window. Her mind began to wander as she thought about what could be going through his mind to cause him to be so deep in thought.

  Tamarius began to smile as he felt her energy gently probing his mind. He decided to send her a message as he thought the words, I love you Makayla Martinez. Her eyes lit up and she blushed as they laughed quietly at each other.

  "Why are you so quite? What has you so withdrawn?" Makayla asked him.

  Tamarius smiled at her, tilting his head to one side and admiring her. "You...you consume me."

  Makayla just shook her head, opened up a magazine and began reading. Hours later the plane finally landed in Central Florida. Tamarius was happy to see the limo already there and his tall, lean brother standing outside the limo watching as the plane landed.

  It had been months since Maxwell had seen the family's private jet. Tamarius and Makayla got more use out of it than he did.

  Maxwell waited eagerly for them to put the stairway in place and open the door. When they did, he flew up the stairs to greet his family. He was bursting with joy when he got his first glimpse of his son pulling his grandson out of the car seat. He immediately gave his brother and new sister-in-law a congratulatory hug and then made his way over to Max.

  After what Tamarius had told him about Max’s feelings, Maxwell felt remorseful for not being a better father. He quietly stepped behind Max who was busy soothing his crying son. He gently tapped Max on the shoulder and Max spun around to face him.

  He smiled as he gave him a hug, trying not to upset Uriel too much.

  "Let me take him." Maxwell said, reaching for Uriel.

  Max smiled as he handed Uriel to his father. Mei stepped forward to stick Uriel's pacifier in his mouth. She smiled at her father-in-law. "Hey, Dad.” Mei smiled as Maxwell leaned down to kiss Mei's cheek.

  "I missed you guys." Maxwell hugged his grandson. "We should get him home in the comfy crib that’s been waiting for him." He headed for the door.

  Max picked up their carry-on bags and he followed his wife and father off the plane. After waiting for the crew to unpack their luggage and repack it in the limo they were all off.

  "Where is Cressida?" Tamarius asked.

  "She’s home. She felt she would be in the way," Maxwell answered.

  "Cressida?" Max asked.

  Maxwell laughed to himself. "Yeah, Cressida and I are sort of seeing each other."

  "Dad," Max and Mei yelled, causing Uriel to jump.

  "Dad, you and Cressida... how... when... how...? Wait I don't want to know how. When... I… I don't... Cressida?" Max said baffled.

  "Yes, and she will be living with us," Maxwell added.

  "We’re not even home yet and already I’m having a heart attack," Mei mumbled to Max.

  "See, I told you. We leave them alone for one minute and this one gets married and that one's playing house," Max said to Mei under his breath.

  "Parents," Mei replied with feigned indignation.

  "You just can't take your eyes off of them," Max added.

  "What are you two whispering about?" Tamarius asked, amused by Max and Mei.

  "Nothing," Mei replied with a smile.

  "There is more," Maxwell said.

  "Max, I can't. This is too much," Mei joked, grabbing Max's arm.

  "It's okay, baby. Just plug your ears. I’ll handle it for you," Max joked back.

  "Both of you are stupid," Tamarius said as Makayla and he laughed softly.

  Maxwell shook his head as he laughed, remembering why he enjoyed the company of his family so much. "I asked Cressida to marry me."

  Max and Mei became quiet as they stared intensely at Maxwell, waiting for him to complete his statement.

  "And she said...yes."

  "Congratulations, Dad. I'm so happy for you," they exclaimed.

  "Did you set a date or are you guys going to be like these two and elope?" Max asked, pointing to his uncle and Makayla.

  "Hey, we didn't elope." Tamarius laughed.

  "My wife and I were not there, so therefore, you eloped," Max replied.

  "Whatever." Tamarius shrugged.

  "We haven't decided yet, but I don't think we want the whole big dramatic thing," Maxwell replied.

  "It must be an old people thing," Mei said turning to Max.

  "Yeah, I think you’re right," Max replied.

  "Old?" Makayla protested.

  "Can we kick them from the limo?" Tamarius exclaimed to his brother.

  "Go ahead. Just leave the baby. There's still hope for him,” Maxwell said jokingly.

  "Honey, we need to be careful. They must have gotten new batteries for their hearing aids. They’re testy tonight," Max joked back.

  "I'm gonna kill him," Makayla teased.

  "Stand down, honey. I got this one. He better sleep with one eye open tonight," Tamarius said, placing his hand on Makayla's knee.

  "Uncle, Uncle, calm down. I wouldn't want you to have a stroke or put out a hip or something," Max snapped back with mock anger.

  By the time the limo pulled into the circular driveway everyone was laughing hysterically.

  Winston opened the limo door, smiling at the contagious laughter. "Good evening everyone," he greeted.

  "Good evening
, Winston," everyone replied as they stepped out of the limo.

  "Ah, young master Max and beautiful Mrs. Martinez, how is college?" Winston asked.

  "Exhausting. We need a vacation," Mei replied, handing Uriel to Winston’s waiting arms as she shifted to get out of the limo.