The Dark Scarlett

by Aven Jayce

  This time her penetrating laugh forces me to mask her mouth with a kiss. “Shh, Dove.”

  “Listen, husband, you need to shut up and start moving your crazy ass brain cells because they need some exercise and my vagina’s waiting to feel some lovin’. Come on,” she fidgets.

  I have no reservations about fucking her hard and fast when she gets so needy, plus I know she’s close to cumming after my tongue swept her clit like a free-wheeling twister on the western prairie. She wants my dick, plain and simple.

  Her eyes close when I slip fully inside and takeoff, her orgasm’s close; a sigh is released between us. God, I love her.

  We’re quiet, no more words, just heavy breathing and abrupt motions. I kneel and put her legs on my shoulders, having better control and speed in this position. Short thrusts... my hands holding her hips and my dick powering into her. I feel it, she’s cumming. Her eyes shut and her mouth drops open without a sound leaving her body. No gasps, moans, whimpers, or even a breath. Fuck, she’s gorgeous when she cums.

  I hold her ankles close until her pulsations slow and she releases her clutch around my cock allowing me the freedom to move again.

  “You finished?” I whisper. “Or do you want another?”

  She shakes her head and rolls over, placing a pillow under her stomach and spreading her legs for me. Hell yeah, now that’s a welcome sight.

  “Well, hello there.” I lean in and she turns her head so I can kiss her cheek. “You know, Dove,” I whisper. “You mean the world to me.”

  “I love you too, Cove.”

  Her words are like a storm in my head. I’m the one who says I love you more than she does, and it always coats my heart to hear that she feels it too. In this position, with her in my arms and my cock pounding away... I love you in my head, damn, it’s gonna be a quickie.

  “Fuck,”

  “Shh,” she reminds me.

  My face nuzzles her neck as my heart races and my panting begins. Here we go.

  I gasp. Huff. Nip at her ear. Can’t stop... and oh... ahh. Fuck yeah.

  “Mmm,” she purrs into the mattress. “That’s it, let those brain cells out.”

  I drop over her body and laugh. “Soph,” I breathe in sharply, still shooting cum. “Goddamn,” my body shakes and my feet straighten. “Uh, that’s good,” I exhale. “That’s so good, beautiful.”

  She snickers jokingly and waits for my breathing to slow before she rolls out, leaving me face down with a smack on my ass.

  “That’s not a sexy thing to say when I’m firing my load,” I mumble into the bed.

  “But it made you laugh.”

  “That it did,” I grin and turn over with my hand under my head. “What a day.”

  “No shit.” She disappears into the bathroom leaving me to I stare at the ceiling, thinking about how lucky we all are. David’s gone, Mark won’t be doing any harm, and now that my eyes are open, I can help Haverty. And boy, do I have a plan.

  Sophia returns and drags her suitcase further into the dimly lit room as I rest my head on my elbow and watch her naked body kneel before it. It’s a vintage 50s style case, dark red, with a hard exterior and brass hardware. She opens the top and the inside has a plaid lining with its contents hidden underneath a child size blanket.

  “What is it, Dove?”

  “It’s sad that it all fits in this tiny little case,” she whispers.

  “What?”

  “My life. What’s left of it, that is. My brother found it with his things when he was visiting my mother. Shit, Cove. I didn’t even know he had moved to another state.”

  “It happens. Some families aren’t close.”

  She nods and uncovers the contents. Toys, dolls, jewelry, and a small diary with a miniature silver lock are inside.

  “I had this thing packed for years just in case I decided to run away. It was set for my big escape. But I never left.”

  “Why?” I ask.

  She pats the floor signaling that she wants me by her side. I roll off the bed and crawl over, kissing the back of her neck as she unpacks her childhood. “Too much of a wuss, I guess. I didn’t have anywhere to run off to until I left for college. Then I never looked back.” She takes out a teddy bear and two dolls, with a huge smile on her face. “I’ve had Elmer, Lucy, and Fran since I was a baby.”

  This has to be comforting for her.

  “And look, it’s my paper fortune teller. I can’t believe it survived being in this suitcase for all these years... and my drawing of Cinderella... a letter to the tooth fairy requesting a dollar. Boy, I was hard up for money. How much do you think kids get nowadays for their teeth?”

  “I used to get twenty bucks.”

  “No shit?” she looks back with a raised brow. “I guess I can picture your mother doing that.”

  “Is that a photo album? I’ve never seen any pictures of you as a child.”

  “Well, it’s your lucky day,” she says, opening the cover. We flip through the pages together and she points out her mother, then Mark as a child, her grandparents, their home, pets and friends, and a beautiful photo of herself as a teenager.

  “What are you doing?” she asks as I take the photo out of the album.

  “You better believe I’m keeping this one. I need a photo of you in my wallet, like all those cheesy ass couples have of one another... Whoa, Soph, what the hell are those?”

  “My eyeball collection!”

  “What? I should’ve known this was going to get weird. I take it back that you’re the normal one,” I say jokingly.

  “No, this isn’t weird, Cove. People collect things.”

  “Yeah, swizzle sticks and bottle caps, not eyeballs.”

  “They’re for toys, so chill out. I’d sew them onto socks in order to make puppets; it’s called creativity. Something your mother would understand.”

  “I’m sure she would. I bet if you ask her, she probably has some of her own.” My wife nods in agreement, even though I wasn’t being serious.

  “Wait, this isn’t mine.” She takes a book out of the suitcase and opens it to a page with two rabbits running through a field. “Must be Mark’s.”

  “He put it in there for me,” I whisper. “Watership Down.”

  “How do you know that?”

  “I just know.”

  She hands me the book with a content smile. “I always loved the ending to that story.”

  “Really? But the main character dies.”

  “No,” she shakes her head. “The story doesn’t end there. The primroses bloom and the rabbits have a new home where they can be at peace. It’s called a happy ending, Cove.”

  CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

  It’s moving day.

  Two months have passed since that week from hell. It’s how we refer to it now in conversation, and Sophia often remarks that we’ve both matured a great deal as a result of the events of that week. A rape, a suicide, a new sister and a mental collapse, revelations about family and friends, plus a disappearance, a death, and a pregnancy thrown into the mix. Hell, there was a whole lot of other shit that happened too.

  My wife said after everything we’ve been through, she now understands the secret to happiness is acceptance of the past... and she’s right, smartass that she is. The source of my frustration, my anger, drinking, and depression is a result of allowing my head to reside in Jameson Industries. And, as we stand in front of our new home, hand in hand, we both live in the present moment and often wonder about the future, but never go back to the past. My parents said we’re ahead of ourselves, that most people don’t become this self-reflective until they’re in their fifties. But then again, most people haven’t experienced a tenth of what we have. And now... shit, I’ve been waiting for this day for so long. I can’t wait to see their faces.

  “What’s taking them so long?” Sophia asks as we wait impatiently. “They’re driving, right? Not walking?”

  “They’ll be here. Haverty said he wouldn’t miss it for the world. He and Alyss
a will be the first to step inside the new place, even before my parents, and they’re just as excited as we are. God, I’m so happy we did this. I mean, look at it, Soph. It’s beautiful.”

  “Yeah, we did the right thing. I love it, and Lafayette Square is just outside our front door. Oh I can’t wait!” She spins in a circle and her grey dress flares away from her knees. “I’m actually glad we kept some of that inheritance for ourselves after the donation was made to the breast cancer foundation in honor of Haverty’s mother. What we did was smart and I don’t find it selfish in any way.”

  “I agree.”

  “You smell good, like rum cake.”

  “Soph, you just switched from talking about millions of dollars and a donation, to rum cake, which, by the way, I really don’t want to think about right now. My hands are still twitching for a drink.”

  “Six weeks and going strong. Keep it up, Babe, for me, and our child,” she smiles and takes my hand. “Oh look! Here they come!” she points and dances around. Damn she turns my heart to mush, acting more and more feminine, turning into a girly girl with each passing day. Maybe it’s because she’s happy, who knows, but I won’t complain.

  Haverty parallel parks and he and Alyssa look in high spirits and energetic as they step outside of the vehicle. They’re still in that decrepit house, although Sophia and I had a few companies make repairs to the roof and windows, and had their electricity turned backed on. They didn’t want to stay with us for long because of the dogs, and I’m sure for other reasons as well. But we’ve done what we can to keep them comfortable as they get back on their feet.

  “Hey tit nugget, this it?” Haverty laughs and looks up at the home.

  “Yes, dickhead.”

  Sophia sighs as Alyssa smacks Hav up the backside of his head. “Don’t you call him a titty muncher,” she says.

  “Tit nug... oh never mind,” he rolls his sleeves and shakes my hand. “Congratulations. This home’s huge. How many bedrooms?”

  “Enough. So, you ready for the first tour?”

  “See, I told you,” Haverty says to Alyssa. “She thought you guys were calling us over to help you move furniture and boxes.”

  “No,” I laugh. “We have a moving company for all that.”

  “I can’t wait another moment, come on, Cove. Let us in,” Sophia runs up the steps to the Craftsman style double front doors and rings the doorbell. “Oh, this is so wonderful.” She pushes it again and then takes Alyssa by the hand, tossing her a wink as I pull out the key.

  I let everyone into the entryway and the women race around the house. Alyssa’s voice echoes through the empty spaces, and with each room she enters she says, for realz? She cracks me up, both women do.

  “Hardwood floors in every room, tiled bathrooms, no carpet anywhere. The two of you are always living the high life. Girlfriend, look at your closet!” I hear Alyssa say with excitement in her voice. “Jimmy! They have one of those flat screens up here with a flickering fireplace! Jimmy!” she calls out. Haverty smiles and looks around the chef style kitchen before entering the two-story living room that has floor to ceiling windows overlooking a park-like backyard. His eyes become fixated on the landscaping, just like mine did the first time I saw it. Big pines, brick patio, flowerbeds, and of course, a pool.

  “I knew it. Alyssa!” he calls out. “I win the bet, he’s got a pool. You owe me the monster meal from Pizza Palace! I want it tonight, my Muffin Mama!”

  “Yeah, the pool’s heated too. We saw this place when we viewed the one next door. Soph and I stood on the second floor deck and couldn’t believe the sight of the yard that was on the other side of the fence. What a set-up these people made for themselves. It’s like an oasis in the city. They took great care of the place too. It didn’t need a thing, the inspection passed with flying colors.”

  “The grass is always greener on the other side, right?”

  “Perhaps,” I smirk, jingling the keys and tossing them in the air. “It’s all yours, my friend,” I watch Haverty catch them with a blank stare.

  “Nuh-uh,” Alyssa whispers from the doorway to the living room as her and Soph walk in.

  “Yeah-huh,” Sophia laughs and pulls her closer to the giant windows. “Isn’t it pretty?” My wife opens the doors to the backyard and simultaneously, they both close their eyes and inhale the fresh air.

  “Are you shitting me, Cove?” Haverty’s voice trembles as he asks the question. “You bought us a house, no wait,” he shakes his head. “You bought us a fucking castle?”

  “It’s an elegant house in a stylish neighborhood that both of you deserve to be in,” Sophia corrects him.

  I start to explain in greater detail. “We have some money set aside for the two of you, and the house is paid for, and...”

  “No, wait,” Haverty holds up his hand to stop the conversation. “I know what’s going on. This is payback for that time I told you to buy Sophia some chocolate, and she and I made a plan to mess with you. Right?”

  I slap him on the shoulder with a smile and shake my head as the four of us walk into the backyard. “This is your home, yours and Alyssa’s. It’s not a joke, my friend. We did this for you.”

  “What about you guys?” Alyssa asks.

  “We’re right next door,” Sophia says and points to our modest gem.

  “Seriously?” they ask.

  “Seriously,” Sophia and I respond with big grins and our arms around one another.

  “Shit,” Haverty covers his eyes for a moment then runs his hand down his face and looks back at his home. He bows his head, then turns to me and rushes in, nearly knocking me down as I’m swaddled in a giant bear hug. “Thanks man,” he says in a teary voice. “Thank you.”

  “Hav,” I mumble. “I can’t breathe.”

  He releases me and I see Alyssa hugging Sophia in great appreciation. “Prudence and Max are gonna be in seventh heaven when they see this yard,” she says. “I can’t believe you did this for us. Can the dogs swim in the pool?”

  “They can do whatever they want, but you’ll let me jump the fence and swim sometimes too, right?” I ask.

  “As long as you’re in a swimsuit and your wiener isn’t hanging out, you bet,” Alyssa teases.

  “So, does this mean the four of us are going to become boring and shit. All domesticated, married, playing catch, and having picnics with our kids?” Haverty asks.

  “Kids?” Alyssa questions. “You guys having more than one?”

  “Going to plays,” he continues. “Borrowing sugar and eggs from one another.”

  “Five,” Sophia says. “I want to have five kids.”

  “You want five kids, Dove?”

  Haverty laughs and continues. “Surprise birthday parties, potlucks, and watching sitcoms when we’re not at work.”

  “But don’t forget about sex, Hav.” Sophia adds. “That has to be in there somewhere. I’m not gonna stop making love, screwing, fucking, whatever you want to call it. Life may become normal, but it doesn’t have to be bland.”

  “What do you think, Cove?” he asks.

  “Haverty,” I say with a pat on his back before pulling my wife nearer to give her a kiss. “Boring and shit is what we all need. Fuck yeah, I hope that’s our future. What you just described sounds perfect. And yes,” I say to my wife. “We won’t forget about the sex.” I hold her tightly from behind and rub her stomach. She sighs and puts a hand on my forearm.

  “I can’t wait, my love,” I say for her ears only. “I can’t wait.”

  EPILOGUE

  THE JOYOUS OCCASION

  “They’re tiny,” I swallow hard with my hands on the glass of the hospital’s nursery.

  “They’ll grow,” my father says. “You have two beautiful and healthy boys. Trust me, you want them to be this small for as long as possible.”

  “I’m nervous.”

  “That’s normal.”

  “What if something happens to them? I feel like someone’s standing on my chest, Jesus, I need to g
et some air.”

  My father grins and puts a hand on my shoulder. “You’ll feel this way for the rest of your life. Welcome to the wonderful world of parenthood.”

  “How long did you feel like this?”

  “Still feel, Cove,” he turns to my two sons. “They’ll have broken bones and illnesses, maybe stay out late and get drunk with their friends at Pagoda Lake,” he glares at me with a raised eyebrow.

  “Funny, Dad.”

  “You’ll have many sleepless nights. But you’re going to be a damn good father. I know it.”

  “Like you.”

  “Glad you think so,” he whispers and waves to one of my boys. “Sophia doing okay?”

  “She’s wonderful. Amazing. Remarkable. And also exhausted and taking a nap,” I smile. “I can’t believe these two little guys came out of her body this morning. She’s going to be a good mother. It’s incredible how much she’s changed since the first day we met.”

  “And you as well. I’m proud of you, by the way. Five months since you’ve had a drink?” I nod as he places his arm on my shoulder.

  “Almost six,” I pause. “Do you believe how well Sophia turned out with such nutcases for family members?”

  “She’s a survivor, son. We all are.”

  “Wow, did you see that? I think my kid just gave me the finger.”

  “Which one?”

  “Daxton.”

  “Well,” he laughs. “If you name your child Daxton, he’s going to give you the finger eventually. Especially when he finds out his middle name is Snow.”

  “I know.” I shake my head and sigh. “Sophia decided to go with precipitation terms for their middle names. Considering the choices, Snow is better than Drizzle.”

  “True,” he grins. “The two of you are odd, you know that?”

  “Thanks, Dad.”

  “So, Xavier’s middle name is Hail? Your mother said with a name like that he’s going to be a holy terror.”

  “He’s a mix of an Everton and a Jameson, so yeah, I’d say so. Soph and I will have our hands full with these two.”

  “I feel sorry for her, more so than you,” he laughs. She’s the one who has to live with three Everton boys.