Broken (Endurance) (8 page)

"Can't wait." Tamarius replied. “With the trip so last minute, we had no food on the plane.”

"Kay, ya ready to eat?"

"Yes, Dad," Makayla mumbled.

It took them thirty-five minutes to get home, just in time for Makayla to step out of the car and vomit. Tamarius ran to her side, holding her up. Fa hurried inside. Makayla leaned forward as Tamarius patted her back.

Thoughts of her possibly being pregnant entered his mind again. This time he would not say anything to upset her.

"Better?" he questioned.

"Yeah," Makayla said in a hoarse whisper.

Fa returned with a bundle of paper towels and a glass of water. Coretta was close behind, her brow creased with lines of concern. She ran to her daughter’s side and pulled her hair back and felt her forehead.

Fa handed Makayla a paper towel and the glass of water. Makayla rinsed her mouth out and straightened up, taking a deep breath. She smiled at her mother, "Hi, Mom," she said as she wrapped her arms around her mother’s small frame.

Coretta laughed as her hand ran the length of Makayla’s hair. "What a greeting." She turned to hug Tamarius then led the way inside.

"How have you been? How are Mei and Max?"

"They are away at college, right now," Tamarius answered.

"College? What about the baby?" Coretta asked.

"The whole family went to college." Anxious to settle Makayla, Tamarius hugged her and forced a smile.

"Wow. That sounds like fun." Coretta smirked and arch a sarcastic brow.

Tamarius could feel Makayla growing weaker by the minute as she leaned into him more and more "Hon, maybe you should lay down for a little."

"Yeah," Makayla grunted.

He nuzzled up to her ear and whispered, "Ready?" Before Makayla could reply he swiped her off her feet.

"Follow me," Coretta led them to Makayla's old room.

Tamarius let out a spontaneous chuckle as he entered the pink and very girly realm of Maykayla’s childhood.

"Aw, Mom,” Makayla whined.  “You guys never cleaned this junk out."  With a long and loud groan, she hid her face with her hands as Tamarius laid her on the twin sized bed.

"You are our only daughter." Coretta smiled lovingly at the girl. "I can't take this down."

"Ma," Makayla groaned.

Tamarius snickered, which garnered him a quickly tossed pillow from Makayla.

"Sorry, sorry...  I gotta go outside... Princess," Tamarius said through snorts and chuckles.

Makayla couldn't help but laugh as well. It was crazy. She looked around her old room and wondered how she’d ever slept in such an array of frills and lace.

Coretta came to her daughter’s side. "Oh, I've missed you so much.  Let me get you some tea. When was the last time you ate?"

"Late last night.  After we heard the news about Tia we cancelled out dinner. We rushed back to the hotel and packed."  Makayla sat up. "I need my toothbrush." She cupped her hand before her mouth and exhaled to assess her breath.

"So how are you and Mr. Right doing?" Coretta asked.

Makayla felt the heat of an intense blush rise to her cheeks. "Well, things are good so far. He's a really good person. Puts God first and he has his head on right."

"Would you marry him?" Coretta bubbled with excitement.

"Ma, I don't know.  I'm scared.  What if he changes like my ex. I don’t think I could deal with that again."

"Sweetie, don't punish him for another man's mistakes."

"I know.”  For a long moment she stared at the beautiful ring on her mother’s finger.  “Why couldn't I have gotten it right like you and Dad?"

Coretta laughed and hugged her daughter. "Honey what me and your father have took a lot of work. I can't tell you how many times I nearly walked out the door. It only worked because we placed our problems in God's hands.  We prayed and worshiped together and found it within ourselves to work it out."

"You and Dad had problems?" Makayla was surprised.  She’d always seen her parents smiling and happy together; a very loving couple whom she’d long admired.

"Well, yes, honey. He lost a lot when he walked away from his family to be with me. This was hard on him, but he loved me."

"I didn't know."

"Because you are our princess and we overprotected you.  I see now that it didn't help. Look, don't allow the past to ruin what could be a great future.  Don't let your ex win. That man would not want to see you happy."

"But I don't know if that man--” Makayla pointed to the door Tamarius had exited, “--wants to marry me?"

"I can see by the way he looks at you," Coretta replied. Truth was she already knew that Tamarius had spoken to Fa earlier about asking for Makayla's hand in marriage. Fa was happy to give his blessing to Tamarius.

"I don't know. He's never been married and I have. I feel like… well like I’m damaged goods," Makayla mumbled.

"Makayla, don't you ever say that. Do you think he feels that way about you?" Coretta questioned, looking into her daughter’s eyes.

"I don't know. I can't speak for him." Makayla looked away. The truth was she didn't want to know. She didn't want to find out that he did see her as damaged goods. It was easier for her to accept the negative rather than the positive.

"Kay, you know in your heart that man loves you."

There was a tap at the door. "Come in," Makayla called out.

Fa stepped in carrying her bag. "Feeling better, I see." He set her duffle bag on her bed.

"Yeah, just hungry."

"Let me go set the table." Coretta stood, gave her daughter an affectionate pat on the cheek and left the room.

"So, Tamarius..."

"Ah, Dad, I just finished talking to Mom about him." Makayla smiled, throwing herself back on a pillow.

"Yes, but I’m your father, I need to know how you feel."

“Daddy, everything is good. Don’t worry.”

Fa sat next to his daughter. "Don't worry?” he snorted. “If he hurts you, I will run amuck. I will run up his back and break his neck," Fa said as Makayla burst out laughing.

"Dinner is ready!" Coretta yelled.

"Dad, can I go see Tia?"

"I think you should eat first. Tia will be all right."

Makayla reluctantly agreed. "I have to go brush the vomit off my teeth before I eat. I will be out soon."

"Okay. Is that your only bag?" her father asked, getting up. Slightly confused by the limited amount of luggage they brought with them. Fa was hoping they would stay longer than a few short days.

"We were rushing so we only packed what we needed. The rest of the stuff is on the jet if we need it," Makayla replied.

“How long are you staying?” Fa questioned.

“Well, I don’t know. We don’t want to get in the way. Tomorrow we can get a hotel room in Port of Spain.”

"Nonsense. Stay here. We have plenty of room," Fa said before leaving the room.

Makayla shook her head.  No matter how hard she would try, she knew her father would not allow them to stay at a hotel. She grabbed her toothbrush and headed down the hall to the bathroom.

Her parents lived in a four bedroom, one bathroom house. Her father and uncles had built this house from scratch with their bare hands. Makayla had many happy memories of her years spent in and around the house.

When her father had moved the family to New York, he’d insisted on keeping the house as a summer getaway.  Every year the whole family would return for the summer, giving them the best of two worlds. Later Makayla and Tia moved out and her parents then decided to retire and move back home to Arima, Trinidad.

Makayla entered the dining room and was greeted by the happy and light conversation of her parents and boyfriend were engaged in.   They were laughing and eating together as though they’d always known one another and Makayla happily joined in.

After a great dinner and some pleasant chatting, Makayla went off to see her cousin. Tamarius had agreed to join her and she was grateful for the support.

He agreed because he wanted to see if he could heal her.

Makayla took a deep breath and hesitated a moment before opening the door and entering the room. Tamarius could feel the family’s love for Tia as it emanated from every corner of the room and he smiled. The room was almost identical to Makayla's, the only difference being the color.  Tia’s room was a burst purple.

Makayla smiled at him knowing what he was thinking. "Stop it," she whispered. She pulled a chair up to her cousin's bed and picked up her limp hand. Tia looked even worse than Makayla had imagined.  Her cousin’s tiny body was battered and her face barely recognizable.

Tamarius grabbed another chair from the far corner of the room and brought it to the opposite side of the bed.

He looked over at Makayla who seemed to be lost in thought. "Kay, how do you feel about doing a healing on her?" he asked.

Makayla looked at him. "Why didn't I think of that? Yeah, I just need to..."

"When you’re ready," Tamarius said, already knowing she needed to balance her emotions in order to focus.

Makayla relaxed then nodded at Tamarius. They began with a prayer, asking God for protection and blessings. They gently picked up Tia's hands and instantly Tamarius and Makayla began to send healing energy through Tia's entire body, healing fractures and internal injuries.

Within minutes, Tia sat straight up in bed, screaming out Makayla's name. Tamarius and Makayla broke their focus and quickly jumped to tend to Tia.

"Tia, it’s me. Tia!" Makayla called out, wiping the sweat away from her cousin’s forehead. Her heart swelled with hope as she hugged her. "Tamarius, go get her some cool water, please."

"Sure." He rushed out of the room.

"Kay," Tia whispered.

Makayla pulled away and looked into her cousin’s eyes. "Hey, sweetie, you’re awake and talking."

"Why did you come?" Tia asked.

"For you, honey. You’re like my sister. Why wouldn't I be here?" Makayla smiled.

"Leave, please you can't be here, Kay,” Tia whispered through trembling lips.  Her eyes were wide with terror as she scanned the room and returned her gaze to Makayla. “It's too dangerous.  You have to leave.”  Her hoarse whisper rose to a shrill, almost hysterical cry as she took a fierce grip of Makayla’s arms.  “Please leave."

"What are you saying, Tia?" Makayla struggled against the painful grip.

"They are after you. You’re in danger." Tia stared wide-eyed at Makayla before collapsing back on the bed.

"What did she mean?" Tamarius asked, his tone stern and strong.

Makayla jumped at the sound of his voice. "Nothing, she's delusional."

Tamarius swept a suspicious gaze over Makayla and Tia.  He walked around the bed and set the glass of water on the nightstand. He looked down at Tia, steadily scrutinizing the girl’s beaten features.  "How is she feeling?"

"Well, she is talking."

"I know," Tamarius said, glaring at her.