"Good. Congrats on your marriage."
"Aw, thanks."
"Mei, your mom and sister are here. Do you want me to send them up?" Makayla asked.
"Yeah," Mei said unenthusiastic.
"Is something wrong?" Makayla asked.
"No. It's just hard. I have so many negative memories attached to her," Mei replied.
"You want me to tell her you’re busy?" Max said, trying to defend his wife's feelings.
"No, she's still my mother, babe." Mei laughed.
"It's okay, Makayla. Send her up, thanks."
"Hey, Cora do you mind taking Uriel for a second? I want to talk to Mei," Max said.
"Sure." Cora took Uriel and left the room, closing the door behind her.
"Max, I'm fine," Mei said, getting up from the bed.
Max quickly took her by the waist and pulled her close. "I just missed you." Max lifted her chin to kiss her.
"I can't believe you did that." Mei smiled.
"Hey, this mansion is getting crazier by the second. I just needed a little taste of you." Max smiled kissing his way down her neck.
"Stop it. My mom is heading up here right now."
"I'm ready to go back to the crazy island," Max whispered in Mei's ear.
There was a knock at the door and Mei knew it was her mother. "Go get your son. She’s going to want to see him." Mei looked into her husbands captivating grey eyes.
He kissed her one more time before opening the door for Mei's mother. He greeted her kindly before leaving the room.
Mei smiled at her mom as she walked across the room to give her a hug.
"Come have a seat. Max went to go get Uriel." Mei led her mother to a couch in the lounge area of their room.
"This is really nice," Song said, sitting down on the black leather couch.
"Will you be having Thanksgiving dinner with us tomorrow?" Mei asked.
"Well, that’s why I came here to see you today. I'm not sure that I will be able to make it
tomorrow," Song replied nervously.
Max entered the room holding Uriel up like an airplane. After a series of swoops he landed him in his grandmother’s arms.
"Hey, where is Ariaha?" Max asked his mother-in-law.
"She is hanging out with her grandmother downstairs," Song replied, hugging her grandson. "He got so big."
"You should come tomorrow and spend some time with your grandson. He doesn't get to see you."
"I will be downstairs helping Dad plan tomorrow’s dinner. I think he is trying to please everyone’s unique cravings," Max said, not really wanting to get involved in their conversation.
"Okay, we’ll be down in a little," Mei replied.
"Mei," Song began.
"What's wrong, Mom?" Mei asked.
"Your sister wants to see her father tomorrow."
It hurt Mei to think about Thomas Paulard, her stepfather who was determined to kill her and her baby. "Well, I can understand. It's her father," Mei said softly.
"The prison will be having a Thanksgiving Day thing for the inmates and families. Thomas would really like to see his daughter."
"And you... do you want to see him?" Mei asked sternly.
"We have been seeing a family counselor and a marriage counselor."
"Marriage... why would you need a marriage...?"
"Thomas is still Ariaha's father and I don't want her to miss out on having a father."
"You’re speaking of the man who murdered my father and tried to kill me and my son... your grandson."
"Mei, I didn't come here to fight with you."
"Why did you come here? You obviously care more for that man than you do me." Mei stood and took her son away from her mother.
"Mei, don't take it like this."
"How am I supposed to take it?" Mei paced as she rubbed her sons back.
"You don't understand. You've only been married for what, a year? And look at you guys. You don't have problems. You don't know what a real marriage is all about. Max spoils you like any other rich man with money. Eventually the reality is going to seep in. He will get tired of you and start looking at other women. Or not wanting to be around you so much, sending you on shopping trips so he can have some fun on the side. I know how men think. He loves you today, but what about tomorrow? What about after two or three kids?"
"Wow, so the truth finally comes out. This is how you feel about my marriage? What is it that bothers you, and don't hold back this time. Let it rip," Mei said sarcastically.
"I'm just telling you how it is."
"Nobody knows how it is... nobody. At the end of the day all we can do is love one another."
"Mei, I need my husband," Song snapped back.
"Your husband was murdered by his so called best friend," Mei cried. "You don't get it. If a man can't love your child he can't love you."
"Mei, you’re not in my shoes."
"No, I'm not." Mei kissed her son as he played with her necklace.
"I should go. It's a long drive and we have to leave earlier to get there before the other families." Song approached her daughter and hesitantly gave Mei a hug.
Mei stood still, not moving an inch, nor looking at her mother. Song left quietly, feeling remorseful.
Mei paced her room until she felt the full weight of her son's body. He’d fallen asleep in her arms. She walked into his room, laid him in his crib and removed his shoes. All the while, the words her mother had said repeated in her head. She fought back her tears as the negative thoughts began to grow stronger and stronger. She burst into tears as she walked away from her son's crib and headed for the bathroom where she locked herself in. Time passed before she heard Max calling for her. She wanted to answer, but couldn't. She ran the faucet to hide the sounds of her sobbing. It was too late. Max was already at the door.
"Baby, is everything okay?"
"Yeah, I’m fine, Max."
"Your mom left here crying"
"She did?"
"Open the door, please."
Mei slowly walked over and opened the door. Max tilted his head and looked at her.
"Why are you crying?"
"Did I do something hideous in a past life to cause my own mother to hate me?" Mei asked.
"Your mother doesn't hate you." Max pulled her close. "I can't tell you what's going through her mind, but if she can't see how wonderful you are, it's her loss. You have family here, your cousin, your grandma, Unk, and my dad who loves you more than me."
"She is spending Thanksgiving with Thomas at the prison," Mei blurted out.
Max stepped back perplexed and not really sure if he’d heard his wife correctly. By the expression on her face he knew that he had. He gently took her hand and led her into their room to sit on the bed. He sat next to her. Leaning forward he put his head in his hands, trying to wrap his mind around Song's reasoning.
"He's Ariaha's father, I…I can't compete with that." Mei spoke softly as if in a trance.
"Mei, just say the word and I will ban that woman from ever coming over here again."
"I'm not angry at her. I don't know what it's like to be in her skin. I just don't think I could be with a man who’d killed a man and had tried to kill the only child I have with you. I understand she didn't know for years, but she does now and she still wants to work things out with him. She…she wants to work things out... in prison. What kind of marriage would that be? If he really loved her he would let her go have a life. He's not getting out.
"She told me that I don't know what a real marriage is. I got it good and one day you’re going to get tired of me. And when you do, you’re going to keep me busy with shopping trips while you have your fling on the side."
Max laughed. It was ridiculous, but he was used to people making all sorts of comments about the fact that he’d married so young. He’d learned to ignore it. "I don't care what she thinks. I only care what you think. I know that people outside our home are counting down the days to our divorce. A lot of times it's because they c
an't understand how it could work because of their own personal reasons. Your mom has a lot. She lost hope in me so she’s holding on to whatever crap she has left and convincing herself it's love. You’re so much wiser than that, Mei. You’re learning from her mistakes."
Mei smiled at Max and leaned towards him. "The thing is that my mother brought back the fear I used to have about relationships and love. I can go through many things, but loving...deep down...sometimes I'm just crippled by fear... fear that one day you’ll walk out; that you will get tired or feel like you missed out on life because we got married so young."
"Who put us together?" Max asked, putting his arm around his wife and planting a kiss on her head.
"God," Mei answered.
"Only God can divide us. When we're eighty and Uriel is changing my diaper," Max said as Mei laughed. "You will be right there besides me. I'll never let you go. You’re a part of me and I can't go through life with half a body."
"You’re so silly." Mei laughed.
***
Thanksgiving Day arrived with great anticipation. Maxwell planned a lavish banquet of exotic dishes from Trinidad, China and Venezuela. Of course, in the middle of the large table, a plump succulent turkey displayed a perfect golden glaze with apple-cranberry stuffing. After Tamarius said grace, everyone eagerly awaited Maxwell’s carving of the turkey.
The guests included Cora and her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Pennington, Nelson, and Cora's date, Austin Hearst. Nelson sat across from Cora and Austin, staring at her intensely. He was filled with jealousy and rage that Cora had come with a date.
Mei struggled not to laugh at Nelson. As far as she was concerned he’d brought the whole situation down on himself.
"Nelson, how is college?" Maxwell asked, trying to distract him from Cora and her date.
Nelson was nudged by Tamarius who sat next to him. "Oh, ah...fine..., sir," Nelson finally answered.
Maxwell bowed his head, trying to hold in his laughter. He knew what was going on. Nelson, like so many other men, had made the mistake of letting go of a good woman. "Cora, how are you doing?"
"Good, sir. It's great. I'm learning a lot," Cora answered cheerfully as she ignored Nelson’s glare.
"Really?" Nelson answered.
"Austin, could you pass me the mash potatoes, please, dear." Cora asked, smiling at her date.
"Certainly," Austin passed her the mash potatoes.
Nelson just shook his head and began to eat his food since Cora was obviously not going to respond to his statement.
Max took a deep breath as he looked at his wife and tried to figure out what was going on. Mei was suddenly really interested in her food as she made sure to stuff her mouth. Max got the message and laughed quietly to himself.
Dinner was delicious. Everyone sat around the table after the meal, laughing and joking while Mei and Cora excused themselves to take Uriel outside. They brought him to a playground his grandfather had installed for him in a gated grassy area next to the pool. Once in the playground, they locked the gate behind them.
"Are you sure about leaving your date back there with Nelson? He looks like he's gonna kill him." Mei laughed.
"Ah, Austin will be fine. He can hide behind my father." Cora sat down on a shaded bench.
Mei put Uriel down and let him make his way to the sandbox. "That’s the first thing he goes for every time."
"Mei, do you think I'm being too hard on him?" Cora asked.
"I think you’re angry."
"I know we're young and if he just wants to be friends then I should just accept that."
"Are you caving in?" Mei sat next to Cora while keeping her eye on her son.
"No, I think I’m just giving up. I love him but...."
"But what?" Nelson said, standing in front of the four foot gate, resting his arms over the fence as he stared at Cora.
Cora spun around in shock as she stared at Nelson. "What, are you spying on me now?"
"No," Nelson replied.
"What do you want, Nelson?" Cora asked.
Nelson came into the playground, making sure to lock the gate behind him as he took a seat next to Cora.
"I'm going to go watch my son." Mei walked away.
Cora slid to the opposite side of the bench, trying to be as far from Nelson as possible.
Nelson looked at her and smiled. She couldn't avoid him now. Cora had to talk to him. "Why didn't you come to see me off?" he asked.
"I was busy." Cora was short in her reply as she kept her eyes focused forward.
"Yeah. Did your dad tell you I stopped by before I left for good?"
Cora looked down as she fought back tears. Her father had never told her that. "It must have slipped his mind."
"I tried to call you on your cell later that night and it really hurt to hear you’d changed your number to an unlisted one." Nelson looked at Cora. H wanted to touch her, to hold her and tell her he was sorry for hurting her. "Cora, I messed up."
She closed her eyes and turned her head as a tear rolled down her cheek.
Nelson moved closer to her, gently turning her to face him.
"Nelson, please," Cora said, jerking her head away.
"I didn't want to be in the way of you finding someone else or of one day hearing that you’d met someone new and you didn't want to be with me anymore," Nelson confessed. "I never expected to feel the way I have these past few months and especially today, seeing you with your date."
Cora sat there quietly listening to his words. She was speechless. He had the same fears she had, but she was still angry at him for putting her through this. Part of her also wondered if she should just let him go and move on with her life. Cora turned to face Nelson and look into his soft brown eyes and handsome face. "What if you are right? What if we don't belong together?"
Nelson felt his heart drop and leap at the same time. He was happy Cora was looking at him and broken about what she was saying. "Cora, I was wrong. I made a mistake. I should have never let you go."
"But you did... you did and what did you expect? That I would be your friend while you ran around chasing girls? That I would be there to hold your hand when some slut hurt your pride? Maybe you were right. Maybe there is someone better out there for me; a man who will know without a doubt that I'm worth swimming through lava for." Cora stood and walked away.
Nelson stood and watched the woman he was helplessly in love with walk out of his life. "I will swim through lava for you," he mumbled.
Lagoon
Max and Mei enjoyed their holiday break with family and friends. They were relieved when Tamarius and Makayla flew them to the college and spent the night on the island before heading back to Trinidad the next day. The private plane was helpful in bringing over the supplies Max and Mei had bought back home. Mei was exhausted as she crawled directly over to their bed and went to sleep.
Max was happy that Uriel was already sleeping and all he needed to do was put him in his crib. He kissed his son before placing him in the crib then happily joined his wife in bed.
The next morning Mei awoke refreshed and ready to tackle organizing the hut with the supplies they brought back. Luckily for her, Max and Uriel still slept peacefully. It was Sunday and everyone was trying to get back on track for Monday after the holiday break.
Mei opened the fridge to see what she could make for breakfast. She was starving and needed something to eat quickly while she cooked breakfast. Pulling out a half-eaten box of her son's animal crackers, she popped a couple in her mouth as she continued to pull out items for breakfast.
After cooking breakfast she took a quick shower and slipped on her bathing suit to take Uriel to the beach to play. To her surprise Max was still sleeping. She woke up Uriel and fed him breakfast, eating along with him. After dressing him for the beach she became concerned about Max and checked on him. He was really tired. Mei kissed his lips then left with her son. She made sure to leave him a note next to the covered plate of his breakfast.
The beach was beau
tiful and many students were out enjoying the sun and the peaceful crashing of waves. Uriel seemed to love the beach a lot as he ran around playing in the sand.
Mei made sure to keep her eyes on him, always running after him when he got too close to the water. She sat on a large beach towel listening to her mp3 player. From the corner of her eye she could see Samuel and Renee also enjoying the beach. Mei was glad they had found each other and would now stay out of her and Max's way. Mei jumped up from her towel again to chase after Uriel who was running towards the surf again.
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