by Tai Barnett
“Mariska, just calm down. I spoke to Brody myself, he and Natasha were having a simple lunch date to discuss Charles—”
Mariska folded her arms, paced back and forth and breathed in deeply and ferociously.
“Oh, that is just bullshit and you know it! They discussed Charles just a few months ago. And please explain why they were in the same hotel room, in their bathrobes, with their hair dripping wet?”
Oscar’s eyes widen as he leaned back into his office chair while rocking back and forth. He was allowing her to vent.
“Well, Brody will be here momentarily. It’s best that you ask him yourself.”
She stopped pacing, sat on the modern design white couch at the corner of the room and folded her legs.
A few minutes later, Brody walked in unaware that Mariska, had ambushed him. Oscar sighed and rubbed his forehead when he saw Brody.
“This is going to be just fantastic,” Oscar mumbled.
“I thought you had put a stop to this Oscar? What is it now?”
Oscar glanced at Mariska in the corner and Brody turned and saw her.
“So…you were meeting with her in New York, again? Weren’t you?” Mariska stood and walked over to Brody, pushed him in the chest while heading straight toward the door.
“Listen, you don’t know what you’re talking about. Let me explain,” Brody said.
“You’re such a liar! Please just leave me alone,” Mariska said teary eyed and sobbing as she left speedily out the door.
Brody sighed and sat across from Oscar. Brody hated confrontation with women, especially the jealous and controlling kind. But, as usual, in his head he was thinking what’s done is done.
“Well, that went well…” Oscar said sarcastically.
He looked at Brody and sighed.
“I can never understand why you do this to yourself. Why don’t you just pick one and settle down for heaven’s sake…!” Oscar exclaimed.
“Not everyone is cut out to be the ideal husband, Oscar.”
“Then, at least, be the perfect boyfriend and focus on one woman, Brody. You know it’s not that difficult and far less discontenting.”
Brody shook his head from side to side while smiling. Although, his smile was one of exhaustion and disbelief about the situation that he was in.
“Listen, I must admit that these are both lovely women. Most of the women that you have dated were quite lovely, actually. So, talk to me Brody, we have known each other, for a very long time. Now, is there any of these women that turns your world upside down that you can’t ever imagine not having in your life? Who gives you a warm and goofy feeling all at the same time and makes you want to be a better person every day?”
Brody looked at Oscar and rubbed his beard.
“There is no such thing, Oscar. I simply say it is better to seek forgiveness than to ask for permission…and you simply role on with the punches.”
“Well then, that answers my question. Your distorted view about women and relationships, that’s the problem. But take my advice, there isn’t a better feeling than knowing there is one singular individual that will always have you back and your love…no matter what. And it is even a more exhilarating feeling seeing that person with a child that you both created, her tucking them into bed or even scolding them, is the most fulfilling feeling in the world. And when she turns and looks into your eyes, oh that hits the spot all the time. And that feeling…that, indescribable, almost mystical feeling of belonging is something that no woman on the side can ever fulfil. Think about that!”
Later on, that afternoon. I was engaged in a meeting with Tubby, his cameraman named Peter, and my cousin, Lauren, in the family room of my house.
“So, other than Oscar and Mariska, no one else has those other pictures? Well, other than the two that you had returned to Oscar?” Lauren said.
Tubby, whose real name was Mark folded his legs one over the other with his nose held in the air like a peacock.
“Well, no mam. I have the copies right here of both the meetings in the hotel and right here in Atlanta. As a matter of fact, Ms. Mariska Turner called me less than 20 minutes ago telling me that she wanted nothing to do with this, and I should just do whatever I wanted with the pictures.”
Lauren looked at me as I sat with one hand at my cheek and my legs prostrated on the white feathery ottoman.
“So again, in exchange for every last picture your cameraman here Peter, has taken of Brody and I for the last four months, I will give exclusive, unlimited access to my home and my family for the next two months. Right up until the minute that we say Happy New Year! Is that clear?” I was very professional when I needed something to be done.
“Of course, mam, not a problem?” Mark said with a mischievous grin
“Now, the pictures please?” Lauren said.
Mark looked at Peter and Peter took the pictures from his jacket pocket and handed them to Lauren.
"You and Peter here, may stay in the guest bedrooms. If you need instruction or have any problems, please speak with either Lauren my assistant, or Vernon. They both can answer to most matters related to the family and me.
“Also, we will be leaving for the islands in a month. Oh, and I have one condition in my contract, the minute when I say stop shooting, I mean, stop shooting!”
Grow Some Balls, Brody!
A few weeks later Brody had returned to Scotland to visit his family. Martin walked into the entertainment room while Brody drank beers and listened to some 80s music on an old 1990s CD player that he had bought for him when he was younger.
“Remember that song?” Martin said while walking into the room. He started singing off tune at the top of his voice.
“I wanna know what love is…” Martin sang.
“Hey, I lost my virginity to that song and thanks to you getting me that album,” he said while he sat beside his brother. Brody handed him a beer.
“What’s going on with you, bro? You’re looking like the same puppy dog that was here a few years ago when you and Natasha slept together,” Martin drank some of the beer and leaned back into the chair.
“Ohh I see. It’s really her again, huh?” Martin said.
“Can I be honest with you?” Brody said suddenly. Martin almost choked on his beer and was almost ready to jump out of his chair.
“Oh, come on now man. I have been waiting for this day forever. My big brother, Brody Banister being honest about a woman?” Martin said.
Brody sighed.
“I can’t stop thinking about her Martin. The way she smells or laughs or even the way she hides her body from me when she gets out of the shower—even though, she knows how much I find her so sexy and desirable.”
Martin looked at Brody and nodded his head. His eyes were widening even more because his brother never spoke much to anybody about his relationships or his feelings towards women; this was a first.
“How I think I would die for her, how she makes me melt when I see her with Rose and Charles and if I were to ever dare consider spending my life with anyone, it would definitely be her.”
“Ohh, well then that’s pretty clear bro. You sound like you’re in love with the woman Brody. As a matter of fact, that sounds more than love, it sounds like that soul mate bit that weirdos talk about sometimes.”
Brody looked at his brother and groaned while leaning back his head unto the couch.
“I know that you have never heard me talk like this, Martin, but I don’t know what this woman has done to me.”
Martin awkwardly opened his eyes while drinking his beer.
“I know, right. For all we knew, you were dead inside,” Martin said.
“Now, say nothing to anyone Martin, especially maw,” Brody said.
“Well, why not? You know she thinks she is the perfect woman for you, right?”
“It’s all complicated. Natasha went back to her boyfriend and they are all spending Christmas in the islands. They leave next week as a matter of fact.”
Martin
placed the beer onto the stone flooring and stood as he is adjusting his pants that were usually falling off of his tiny waist.
“Well? What are you gonna do then? Grow some balls man! Of all the time, you’re choosing not to be the ‘take what you want’ kinda man, you choose now! Follow her to the islands and make her know exactly what you’re feeling about her!”
The Islands
I hadn’t been back to the islands since Rose was just a few months old. Christmas time in Jamaica was always very eventful and full of activities. My brothers still lived at our old house. I don’t wrong them either, it was a three story, modern accented villa nestled on the top of a hill and surrounded by beautiful fruit trees, flowers and wonderful birds and butterflies.
Nighttime was even more spectacular, we could stay on our balcony and look out at the entire city—the sea of colorful lights and the cool Caribbean breeze caressing your face just made you want to lay there all day on the patio chair and never get up.
When I was a little girl, I used to look out at the tall pimento and pine trees at the front of our yard. I even used to tell my older brothers that I could have sworn that those old pine trees would talk to me sometimes. Then I would grab my paintbrush and start painting them. It was simply wonderful.
But we wouldn’t be spending the night at my brothers’ until New Year’s Eve. Instead, we would be spending the first two weeks at the Silent Water Villa in Montego Bay.
As we drove towards the villa, everyone looked at all the delightful and scenic landscapes that we grew up seeing. I was so excited and had finally put everything with Brody behind me.
“Oh, this is where we have to go before we get to the hotel; we have to stop—somewhere—anywhere and get jerk chicken, Hell-shire for fish and festival, the Blue Hole, I want everything,” I exclaimed in the back of the privately rented luxury bus.
“So, you’re actually coming with us everywhere? Not staying at home or in the hotel? Because we know how you just love to cuddle up with a good book or around that computer of yours,” Michael said.
“And we have to make a stop at Rose Hall Great House,” Lauren said.
“Ohh, hell no! You’re on your own with that, little missy. I ain’t going to no witch’s fortress. You and your brotha over there dun bought enough of your dabbling into dem witchcraft and fooling around on the devil’s playground back in N’awlins,” Vernon said while fixing his hair and looking into in his hand-held mirror.
Rose was seated in Andrew’s lap and Charles was fast asleep in mine.
“Wait, you guys went where?” Andrew asked.
Vernon looked at Andrew strongly with his mirror in one hand and using the other hand for dramatic effects while he told his story.
“These two dun took up themselves and went into a voodoo shop back in N’awlins. This just bout makes my ass itch every time I think about it,” Vernon said. He looked at Lauren and Michael, shook his head and continued looking at himself in his mirror.
Meanwhile, Mark and Peter were seated a few rows behind discussing their film arrangements when they reached each destination.
I smiled while bending over Charles, kissing his cheeks. I loved kissing my babies. Over and over and over again.
“So, who did you meet? Did you see anyone or purchase anything?” Andrew said to Lauren.
“Well, Lauren here was surprised by a very weird looking man who seemed to own the little store. Well, honey, he told her some very interesting things about her love-life, and he even gave her some weird book,” Vernon explained.
“Love life? Or lack thereof,” Michael mumbled.
“Really? That is very interesting. What did he say and what was the book about Lauren?” Andrew asked.
“They’re just overreacting, Andrew. He just gave me this book about twin-souls and soul mates and then he said—” Lauren looked at Michael.
“Well, tell them!” Michael exclaimed.
“He said that my true love was not among the dead and that he was right in front of me.”
I gasped with my mouth wide open. This was happy news.
“But, Lauren, you forget to mention that part to me.” I said. I loved hearing about my cousin’s love life and really wanted her to find someone to love again.
Andrew looked through the window at the blue Caribbean Sea, remembering his dreams. He also remembered how sad Lauren was when they spoke last time.
“Well, I guess if you believe in all that jibber jabber, it’s quite alright. But, those psychic wannabees would call an alligator a lizard,” Vernon said.
“Well, I think that’s just wonderful Lauren. I think you should always leave your heart open to the possibilities of love. True love will always show up at the right time—when you least expect it,” Andrew said.
Lauren smiled while Michael put his arms around her and kissed her on the cheeks.
“My little sis, you’re gonna be alright. You just have to keep your eyes open for that perfect man. I am sure he will come along when the time is right, just like this Mr. Charming Andrew for our Tasha,” Michael said.
Andrew smiled and his cheeks turned slightly pink.
“Well, amen and amen to that, Michael, that’s bout the most sensible thing I heard you say in a very long time,” Vernon said while fixing his sunglasses unto his face.
We made several stops on our way to the hotel in Montego Bay and then we checked in when it was almost sunset. It was a breath-taking paradise. It was our little private heaven for the next few days.
As the kids settled down to sleep, in one room, I walked over to the opposite side where Andrew and I should have been staying together. Although, I bet you know how the story goes by now. My babies were back and forth each room, I was not leaving them by themselves.
But for the past few days, I have been experiencing this overwhelming sexual desire that was becoming uncontrollable. But this is how I would usually get right before I started menstruating. Although, I wasn’t really keeping tabs because I was on birth control. But sometimes, I get so busy I can’t even remember what day it was.
My boobs would expand to double their size and then my ‘hoo-ha’ would sometimes even start throbbing, beating away, it seemed a reminder that I needed to have someone in me right away.
It had been almost five weeks since Brody and I had sex. But I wasn’t feeling guilty anymore, because that was that. I made it clear that we could not see each other anymore and that I was 100% completely and unequivocally committed to Andrew.
I walked into the bathroom where Andrew was getting ready for bed, fully prepared and dolled up in a bronze brown satin and lace baby doll lingerie. I was wearing his favorite perfume and had my hair down like he usually liked it, loose and flowing like I just stepped out of bed.
I slowly opened the door and saw him applying moisturizer onto his face. He looked back at me into the elaborate antique mirror and smiled. He was a sight to behold with his hair now shoulder length and a well-defined goatee. He usually preferred sleeping topless with cotton pajamas. Although, he would most times wear a pajama top because of the children.
But tonight, I was just in time to see him wearing only his blue and black checker pajama bottoms and bed slippers. He turned around and folded his arms while leaning against the his and hers basin pedestal.
He smiled because he knew that I was up to something. He looked at me from head to foot and sighed.
“What is my baby up to tonight?” he said.
I slowly walked over to him, I held his head while kissing him and started removing his pants.
“Ohh, wow! What’s gotten into you?” Andrew said as I quickly jumped up on the basin. I turned him around and kissed him—wrapped both feet around his waist and pulled him closer towards me.
I was panting and almost out of breath as he was looking down at me confused yet aroused. I took off my nightgown and was completely naked. I laid back so that he could do whatever he wanted to do with me.
I was feeling hotter than I usually
did, acting more aggressive and hornier (without having had any alcohol either) than usual.
As he looked into my eyes and at my well-rounded and full bosoms looking like two of the juiciest pink grapefruits that you have ever seen, he kissed me.
“You’re almost on your period, huh? But this is—”
“Ohh, just stop talking, Andrew. I just want you in me right now!”
We made love almost for the entire night or every moment that we got the chance to. But by the following week, an unexpected visitor would cause quite some concern for everyone, especially, me.
What the Hell Are You Doing Here?
While I packed some extra towels and sunscreen to take to the pool, Mark came to speak with me in the dining area. But somehow, he was different today. He was not wearing his usual sly expression. Instead he appeared to be quite worried or was being bothered by something.
“Is everything alright, Mark?”
“I just thought you might wanna know that I just got a phone call from one of my contacts—Brody seems to be in the Islands.”
I felt my heart skip a beat and I suddenly dropped the glass of lemonade that I was taking for Andrew as Mark rushed toward me. I bent over quickly and started cleaning up.
I couldn’t believe what I was hearing and from Tubby of all people. Mark looked at me as though he was after all human and actually had a conscience. He sighed and looked back at the splinters on the floor not sure if he should say something to me. Although, it could be one of his tricks to get more out of me.
“W-what is he doing here? I don’t understand.” Mark gave no response.
He took the cloth and tray from my trembling hands.
“Let me finish up here.” he said
I stood and turned around looking at the pool in the distance.
He started cleaning up and then glanced up at me. He stood and walked towards me.
