Scarlett Bride (The Scarletts

by Brenda Barrett

  He pulled on black slacks and a crisp white shirt that had survived the journey to Treasure Beach unwrinkled. It was just gone six, and the afternoon was clear and golden. He would take a walk to the lobby area and view some of the art displays he had seen there on his way in.

  He ran a comb through his hair and slicked it back. His eyes still looked slightly tired.

  He gave himself a passing grade in the mirror. He had never had a problem with women being attracted to him. Ashaki would soon be as madly in love with him as he was with her.

  He reached the lobby area and saw the name Nate Cross. Oliver's friend the photographer.

  He could instantly tell that the pictures were of Africa. He walked from the beginnning of the pictures and slowly came to the end, where there was a picture of Kidogo and Ashaki!

  He stared at it for a while. She was looking behind her slightly, a small smile on her lips; the village was in the background.

  It was breathtaking. As if she was born to be photographed. He took in her features. The photographer was talented but the subject was superb.

  He didn't know how long he stood there.

  A voice spoke to the right of him. "Gorgeous photographs, aren't they?"

  "Yes, they are." He glanced at the person who spoke: male, olive toned skin, a knowing smile on his lips.

  Had he been that obvious with his fixated staring at Ashaki's photograph?

  The guy certainly seemed to think so. He held out his hand for a handshake.

  "Ricky Mills. And you are?"

  "David Wheeler. Do you know if these photos are for sale?"

  "No, they aren't," Ricky said regretfully. "I already asked the photographer, Nathan Cross. I only got permission to put these up for a limited time."

  "Oh, you work here?" David raised an eyebrow.

  "Not really." Ricky shrugged. "I just own the place."

  "Oh." David smiled. "It is a nice place."

  "Would you like to join me for a drink?" Ricky asked. "We can sit at the bar down at the beach. This is the perfect time to do it. We have a nice sunset view."

  "I am waiting for someone, for dinner."

  Ricky glanced at his watch. "It's now six. You have plenty of time before dinner. Come on, I like to meet my guests; it is lovely to meet new people."

  David nodded. What was the harm? He had lots of time to spare anyway.

  "So," Ricky said when they were sitting under a cabana not too far from the beach, "where are you from?"

  "New York," David answered, sipping his cocktail. "And I am a doctor."

  "And you like Africa, or maybe it’s just photos of Africa." Ricky grinned. "I could see how taken you were with the lobby display."

  "I was in the Congo for two years," David said easily, "in the exact same place that Nathan photographed. I met him, actually."

  "Ah," Ricky nodded. "Ah. Now I understand."

  "Yep." David drummed his fingers on the bar.

  "And the girl, you know her too, I bet?" Ricky murmured. "I saw a hint of--what should I call it?--possession when you were looking at her."

  "Not possession." David shrugged. "Definitely not."

  Ricky smiled. "You met her then?"

  "Oh yes." David looked at Ricky a while before answering. "She's my love. I am here for her, actually. She's the one I am meeting for dinner."

  "You don't say." Ricky raised an eyebrow. "I thought she was married."

  "You know her?" David questioned sharply.

  "Yes, I do." Ricky mused, "Ashaki is very lovely. She is married to my neighbor, Oliver Scarlett."

  David sighed. "They are not married for real. It's just a temporary arrangement."

  "They don't seem that way," Ricky murmured. "I see them together. They are in love, I'd say, but what would I know? I haven't really felt that emotion myself."

  David felt a sharp sticking pain of jealousy. What if his original instincts were right and Oliver and Ashaki had fallen in love? Would he be able to win her back? What if she didn't want to be won? There really was nothing that he could do.

  "No need to look so distressed." Ricky chipped into his feverish thoughts. "It was just a casual observation. There is really no way to know what people are feeling."

  Ricky was right; there really wasn't any way to know. And even if he did know, would it make a difference?

  "So how is it that you allowed Oliver to marry her and not you?" Ricky asked curiously. "It must be some story."

  "I am already married." David added quickly, "We are going through a divorce."

  "Really?" Ricky raised an eyebrow. "You already have a wife? Tell me about her."

  "Why?" David asked. "There is nothing to tell."

  "There must be," Ricky mused. "She has to be terrible; you can't wait to leave her to get together with somebody else or pardon me, you must have gotten to know Ashaki very well while you were in the Congo and she just meets your full criteria for the kind of person you want to spend the rest of your life with."

  "I don't know Ashaki that well," David muttered, "but I don't need to. I know I love her."

  "Was this the same way you felt about your wife when you two got together?" Ricky asked casually. "An all consuming fire, a passion that needed to be fulfilled. A bright burning love that you know will never die."

  "What's this?" David laughed. "A counseling session?"

  "Nah." Ricky grinned, "I am the least qualified person to counsel anybody. I am just an armchair observer, but it's significant that you didn't answer the question."

  David shrugged. What was the harm in talking about this with Ricky? He was a stranger. He would have zero impact on his life.

  He forced himself to do some introspection. He had not done anything like that for months, especially where Miranda was concerned. He had completely written her out of his mind.

  "Yes, at first when I met Miranda we had mad chemistry." He glanced at Ricky. “She was hot, adventurous, funny, crazy fun. We met in med school, same classes. The more I saw her the more I liked her and she liked me too.

  "We moved in together for a semester and then her parents, who are not very liberal in their outlook, insisted that we get married. And that was the death knell in our relationship, I guess. I felt forced into it. We went from super compatible to being constantly at each other's throats.

  And so I left at the earliest chance I got."

  "Without resolving anything?" Ricky asked in alarm. "I mean, I am no psychologist but it doesn't seem as if you gave that relationship a shot."

  David grimaced. "I was over it. I am over it."

  "And into Ashaki?" Ricky raised an eyebrow. "What happens when the new relationship with her goes south? Ashaki will not have the kind of support system that your wife has. She'll be in a strange country with no backup resources. And what if you get her pregnant?"

  "I am not talking to you anymore." David growled. "You are making assumptions about me that are none of your business."

  "Are you really going to marry her?" Ricky asked, unruffled. "Jump from one marriage to another without batting an eyelid. Or are you going to live with her until you get tired of her? When her exotic allure loses its appeal? "

  "This is none of your business," David growled. "And I didn't ask for your opinion on my life."

  "You are right." Ricky shrugged. "But I look at Oliver and I look at you. Oliver was willing to let her go to let her live her life. He urged her to go to school to concentrate on doing something outside of him. You, on the other hand, are basically selfish. You don't love her; you want to have sex with her.

  "Admit it, when you are done and the lust fizzles out, you'll be in the same place that you are now with your wife."

  David got up. He felt incensed enough to punch Ricky in his knowing, snarky face. This Ricky guy didn't know him and yet he was talking to him as if he had some special insight into his life. He was making judgments that had nothing to do with him.

  "It was eye opening talking to you," David growled. "I don't think
I want to repeat the pleasure."

  Ricky chuckled. "Just think about what I said. I am sure you've heard the quotation: If you love something very much, let it go free. If it does not return, it was not meant to be yours. If it does return, love it as hard as you can for the rest of your life."

  David walked off without acknowledging the saying but it was ringing in his head. He was very much afraid that if he allowed Ashaki to go free, she wouldn't return to him. She would choose Oliver. The thought made him almost feel like grinding his teeth in frustration.

  Chapter Sixteen

  "Wow, you are all dressed up," Oliver said when he entered the house. It was six o'clock in the evening. He was home earlier than normal. He had been spending his evenings working out with Reuben at his greenhouse.

  "I am going out to dinner," she said it softly, maybe with a little apology in her voice.

  He didn't have to ask with whom. David was in Jamaica; he expected that he would make a move at some time or the other.

  Oliver came to the couch and sat across from her with a sigh.

  "You look very pretty."

  "Thank you." Ashaki curled her hand in her lap and crossed her legs. "Courtesy of Francine Mills. She has very good taste in clothes."

  She smoothed the hunter green vintage inspired dress along her legs. Like most of the clothes that Francine had given to her as a gift, it looked and felt expensive. And it was the first item of clothing she had seen after getting back from Faith's parlor today.

  David had called when she was in the process of braiding her hair. Faith had been installing the last braid when David had sprang the invite on her.

  Now here she was, an hour too early because she was anxious about the dinner.

  "You don't have to go," Oliver said, looking at her. "You do not have to do anything you do not want to do. You are not beholden to anyone. I got married to you to set you free. And that includes being free from David as well. You can be free of him, if you want. No verbal promise while you were in a desperate situation should be holding sway over you right now."

  Ashaki nodded jerkily. "Thank you, Oliver."

  "And me too." Oliver continued. "The ball is in your court where the two of us are concerned. You have complete autonomy over this relationship too; do you understand what I am saying, Ashaki?"

  Yes, she understood. Ashaki nodded again. It meant that he did not love her. He would do nothing to influence her one way or the other because he could take or leave her.

  She stared at him sitting calmly. His hair was getting long again; it was touching his collar. He said he wanted to do it in cornrows like when he was in college. He was in khaki pants and a black shirt. His white doctor's jacket was probably left at the office.

  Passionate Oliver, who had kissed her the other day, was gone. In his place was stoic Oliver, who was determined to do the right thing by her.

  He rubbed his neck and sighed. "I saw the realtor today. I am going to get the townhouse in the same complex where Nellie lives. You remember how nice it was?"

  "Yes, it was." Ashaki felt a sick dragging sensation. He was signaling that he was moving on. "How is Nellie these days? You never talk about her anymore."

  "Because mentioning her upsets you," Oliver smiled. "She's fine. She's told me to tell you hello a couple of times. I never mention it though."

  Ashaki stood up and headed to the patio doors. "I'll miss here. The sea is just a couple of feet from the door."

  "I know," Oliver turned his head to look at her, "but change is inevitable."

  "Yes, it is," she sighed and looked out at the water. The sun was setting, her most favorite part of the day.

  "What time is your dinner?" Oliver asked quietly.

  "Seven." She looked at the clock. "I have time."

  "Want to hear how the rest of my family took the news that I found my dad?"

  "Yes." Ashaki spun around and leaned on the warm glass door.

  "Well, they all seemed resigned to it. My Uncle Lloyd was the only one who seemed genuinely sad," Oliver said softly. "He said it was a pity that Peter was so close by for years and never once made it known to the family. Pops especially would have been happy to at least see him but maybe it would have broken his heart to hear that his son was dead."

  "Yes, it is crazy," Ashaki murmured. "He denied himself the opportunity to know his family in a meaningful way and he was left none the richer."

  Oliver inhaled and then said quietly, "I asked Zack about the whole divorce process. He said he can handle it. There are special considerations for a couple who have been married less than two years. A court can consider the circumstances and speed up the process. It can be done in six months or even less."

  Ashaki inhaled shakily. "Oliver..."

  "I want you to have all the facts while you are with him. I will not hold you back." Oliver looked at her solemnly. "There are no strings attached from my side."

  Ashaki pushed away from the wall. "I have to go."

  "Want me to drive you there"? Oliver asked.

  "No." Ashaki felt really angry with him. "I can find my own way without you." She grabbed the front door opened and then turned back and looked at him. Why was he making her do this alone?

  She wanted him to twist David's arm to warn him to leave her alone. To declare that he married her to help her but now he couldn't let her go.

  His eyes met hers and held. And he didn't move a muscle.

  She was the one who dragged herself from their stare dance and headed outside to her uncertain future.

  ****

  David met her near the lobby. He was standing at one of the massive pillars, his hand in his pockets and a thoughtful look on his face. His hair was tousled like he had run his hand in there impatiently several times.

  He actually looked adorable. His mossy green eyes lit up when he saw her.

  "Ashaki." He walked to meet her. "You look delectable." He kissed her on her cheek.

  He smelled like aftershave and musky perfume. She always knew when he was in the clinic by that perfume.

  It took her back; she closed her eyes and inhaled deeply. This was David. Handsome Dr. David who had virtually forced Oliver to marry her because he wanted her to escape. And wanted her for himself and made no moves to hide it.

  The knowledge could get to a girl's head.

  "So how are you?" He held her hands and looked into her eyes.

  "I am good." She smiled.

  And he gasped dramatically. "Just four months from the village and you are hardly recognizable."

  "In a good or bad way?" Ashaki asked playfully.

  "Good. Very good." David smiled sadly. "Oh Ashaki, I am torn."

  "About dinner?" Ashaki asked him, concerned at the crestfallen expression on his face.

  "No." David forced a smile but it didn't reach his eyes. "About me. Our situation. It seemed so simple at first. But now, you know what, let us go and eat and talk and maybe get to know each other a bit outside of the restricted, charged atmosphere of the African jungle."

  They walked to the dining room. They were seated at a table for two in a private alcove. There was low melodious music playing and their waiter handed them menus for the evening.

  "This is nice," David said, looking around.

  "And their food is good." Ashaki smiled, remembering her dinner with Ricky and Francine.

  "You've been here before with Oliver?" David asked sharply and then fanned her off when she was about to answer. "Doesn't matter. I am a jealous toad; it is going to take me a while to get it under control."

  "No," Ashaki smiled. "Oliver is very careful not to do anything even remotely romantic with me."

  David nodded. "I always knew he was the best man to marry you. Somebody else, even me, would have seduced you by now."

  "Not Oliver," Ashaki said peevishly. And then moderated her tone. She sounded as if she was mad at him!

  David inhaled. "I did that interview today. It was hopeful."

  Ashaki nodded. "Are you su
re that this is the best move for you?"

  "No," David said bluntly. "I mean, I was sure when I did the interview; now...not so much."

  Ashaki didn't ask him why. He looked tormented, as if he was uncomfortable with himself.

  "You know Bekele got married," David said, giving her a half smile. "He replaced you with Aria a week after you guys left."

  Ashaki shuddered. "Aria was only thirteen."

  David nodded. "My ah..." He leaned in close to Ashaki and took her hands in his. "My wife had a baby when I left for Africa."

  Ashaki nodded. "I heard. How do you feel about it?"

  "I am mad as hell," David muttered. "She never told me; she was quite content to not tell me. That's one of the things I couldn't stand about Miranda, her independence, her take me or leave me attitude."

  He inhaled. "She called me this evening, a little before you got here. It was pretty unexpected. She asked me to give us one more try. I didn't know what to say at first. I was kind of convinced we were dead, over, never to be resurrected.

  "But after talking to a total stranger today I did some introspection. I have come to the realization that I may be more responsible for the death of the marriage than I had... er... thought."

  "And what did you say?" Ashaki asked.

  "I am willing to give us another try." David squeezed her hands in his and then let go. "I am inclined to take her up on that invitation of at least trying again." David leaned back in his chair with a sigh.

  Ashaki relaxed slightly. "That's a good thing, David, working on your marriage, especially now when you have a child."

  David grimaced. "I don't know if it's a good thing. I guess we can fake it till we make it."

  "So you are not going to be staying here long term then?" Ashaki asked in relief.

  "No." David looked at her steadily as if there were so many things he had to say but couldn't. "I'll be informing the medical center of that tomorrow and I'll be booking my ticket and heading home. I think it's for the best all around. I can see that my news is not a disappointment to you."