The Flavor Of Love (2 page)

“
Etta, what about the phone call we received from the hospital?”

“
How do we know it came from the hospital? What if this is some kids prank? They heard about the car pileup on the causeway through the news and started playing pranks on people. Watch, Frank will come back in here and tell us it’s all some big misunderstanding. Neil and Toby are fine and waiting for us at the church.”

“
I see Frank coming down the corridor. Let’s go find out if he has any news,” Fay suggested.

“
You will see I am right,” a smile trembled over her lips.

Etta walked towards Frank. He came close and looked down at her intensely. A glazed look of despair began to spread over his face. She felt the nauseating sinking of despair. He dragged her against him and wrapped his arms about her, binding her arms to her sides as he whispered in her ear.

“
I’m so sorry sweetheart, our boy is gone. Neil is gone,” he said in a moist low, tortured sob against her ear. His hold tightened as she swooned against him.

“
No!” She protested. Her breath came in shallow gasps as her senses shattered. A suffocating sensation threatened to choke her and when she released her breath, it came out in another heart wrenching scream. Etta’s teeth chattered, her body trembled and her knees knocked together beneath her wedding gown. Only Frank’s body and arms kept her on her feet. She wept aloud, her nails biting into her palms leaving bloodied crescent shapes.

The happiest day of her life turned out to be the worst.

CHAPTER 1

Keigo Kyou rubbed his aching abdomen.

“
That ulcer acting up again, Judge?”

“
It’s been a long day. Longer than usual since we are trying to wrap up the last four episodes of the season.”

“
Well, this is the last one; maybe it won’t be too difficult.” Keigo held his arms back to allow his judicial robe to be slipped on. She smoothed her hands over his shoulders and smoothed out the material. “I was thinking, Judge. Since you’re wrapping up the season and will be going on summer vacation, how about you allow me to buy you a drink to celebrate the renewal of twenty more episodes?”

The director called out, “Everyone take your places; we are about to begin!”

The makeup artist pressed the sheet of rice paper to his forehead and nose to prevent camera shine. “Sorry, but I already have plans. Maybe another time, Caroline,” he gave her a polite smile.

“
You always tell me the same thing,” she pouted.

“
Yet you keep asking,” he pointed out.

“
Can’t blame a girl for trying,” she whispered and winked at him before stepping aside.

“
Nope, as long as you don’t mind my continuing to say, ‘no’,” he grinned.

“
All quiet in the courtroom. Key announcer!” The director gave a hand gesture to start the music.

“
You are about to enter the courtroom of Judge Keigo Kyou. The people are real. The cases are real. The rulings are final. This is his courtroom. This is Judge Kyou.”

“
Enter Bailiff on 1, 2, 3…”

Bailiff Williams took his place next to the bench. In a deep booming voice, he announced to the courtroom, “This court is now in session, all rise.”

Keigo stepped out of his chambers and made his way to the bench.

“
Key announcer.”

“
Tanesha Lewin is suing
personal
chef and owner of the online business
Food Aura
for the money she paid to cater her wedding.”

“
Bailiff on 1, 2, 3…”

“
Be seated!” He leaned over, handed the file to Keigo and said, “Your Honor, this is case number DC-07-4335, Lewin vs. Jones. All parties have been sworn in.”

“
Okay, let’s get on with it then. Now, Mrs. Lewin, you hired catering services from this woman. And you were not happy with the meal, is that correct?”

“
Uh…excuse me, Judge. First, let me say you are much cuter in person--”

He glanced at Miss Jones long enough to say, “Miss Jones, you do not speak in my court until you're called upon to do so.” Keigo interrupted automatically, barely giving the speaking woman a second glance.

This was not the day for dramatic outbursts or anything else. This was to be his last case before embarking on a two-month long awaited leave. From what he read in this case file, it should take less than ten minutes for him to render a judgment.

“
Your Judgeship, you'll have to forgive me. I was wondering why
she
gets to tell her side first? I'm sure if you just let
me
explain the unpleasant situation, you will just throw her petty ol' case right out of your courtroom.”

Keigo, with a scowl, pulled his reading glasses off his nose and placed them on top of the papers giving the uncouth woman his full attention. His dark eyebrows lifted in surprise as he took time to look at her. She was thin, toffee colored skin and of medium height. Her dark hair was worn in a natural wild style like a halo about her face and shoulders, and if he squinted hard enough he would swear he could make out the darkness of her nipples beneath the white stretch neck peasant blouse.

The first thought that came to mind was a crazed gypsy fortuneteller he'd seen in some “B” grade horror film. The only difference was the woman in the movie wasn't a Black woman that didn’t know how to keep quiet in his courtroom. Sometimes being on television brought out the worse in people.

“
If we may continue,”
he mumbled and rubbed at the throbbing in his stomach. “Miss Jones, I can assure you there is a method to how I do things around here. You will get your turn in due time.” Keigo’s dark eyebrows lifted in disbelief. The woman had the gall to shake her head at him as he was speaking.
What the hell?
Shouldn’t the director yell cut or something? Of course not, this has the potential for “great TV” and what the director didn’t want to keep, he would edit out later.

“
Nope, Judge Cutie, it's my reputation and character coming into question here and I reserve the right to defend myself.” His mouth dropped wide in surprise when she moved from behind the podium with a swirl of scarlet and white-layered skirts swaying about her slender ankles and
bare feet
?

“
Miss Jones, you need to go back to your podium, please. This still happens to be a court of law.”

“
By the way, call me Etta.” She gave him a dimpled grin and winked. His second wink within the past fifteen minutes. He wasn’t impressed. His stomach hurt and he was quickly losing reign on his patience.

Releasing a loud sigh, he forged ahead. “
Miss Jones,
you may address me as Judge Kyou, Mr. Chief Justice or Your Honor,” Keigo corrected her before proceeding to ask, “I may regret asking this, but tell me please, why are you standing in my courtroom without shoes?”

“
Oh, Your Judgeship, I have them with me. I’m just not wearing them.”

“
I can see that,” he stated. “What I don’t know is why?”

She shrugged. “I hate shoes and every chance I can get, they come off. I’m inside, so it’s okay. I think it started when I moved into my new house three years ago and the decorator my friends hired surprised me with this awesome place where I could find inner peace. So it’s decorated in an Asian style and I have
tatami
floor mats. Seeing how you’re Japanese, I don’t have to tell you what tatami flooring is made of...do I?”

“
Miss Jones, true I am Japanese but aren’t you being a bit presumptuous? I was born in San Francisco,” Keigo pointed out, not sure why he felt it was necessary.

“
So you don’t know what a
tatami
floor is?” She asked.

“
I didn’t say that.”

“
Then what’s your point in saying it at all?” She huffed. “I’m not Japanese nor was I born in Japan, but I respect and have learned about your culture.”

“
Miss Jones, this is not your home and there are no tatami floorings in here, so please put back on your shoes. It’s not sanitary.”

“
My feet are okay. I will wash them when I get home, so I’m not worried about germs,” she explained to him as if he was a dense child.

“
I am. From your feet.”

“
You can eat off my feet, thank you. I clean them just as much as the average person washes their hands. Would you like to see them? Let me--”

“
Ms. Jones, don’t you dare move any further away from your assigned podium!”

The people in the audience laughed.

He blinked once…twice, the muscle in his cheeks worked over time as he bit down on his back teeth. “Miss Jones, need I remind you that you are currently in a court of law. It is appropriate that while you are in public you should wear shoes on your feet, and several places will not allow you entrance without shoes. This is one of them.”

“
First, I didn’t ‘enter’ without my shoes. I just removed them a moment ago. Secondly, I understand how the conventional world—that I must suffer on a daily bases—works. I also can read and I didn’t see any signs on your courtroom door that require me to keep on my shoes.”

“
You also didn’t read a sign to keep on your clothes, but I see you’re still wearing those,” Keigo pointed out.

She gave him an impish grin. “If it’s a problem, I can start shedding. I have a membership at the nude beach, so if you thought to intimidate me with that statement…”

Keigo thought about her being nude. He knew it was a mistake when it crossed his mind because it had been awhile since he’d been with a woman. So the mere thought of seeing her naked up close and personal brought on an unexpected semi-erection. He shifted in his chair, clearing his throat loudly.

Keigo simmered a little longer in silence before saying in a calm voice meant for a child, since she insisted on misbehaving like one, “Miss Jones, I believe we’ve gotten off on the wrong foot.”

The viewers in the courtroom laughed.

She cocked a perfectly arched eyebrow at him and placed her long slender fingers on her hips.

“
No pun intended,” the corner of his mouth tipped up in a grin.

“
Of course not,” she murmured.

“
Miss Jones, how about you move back over to stand next to your shoes and allow me to proceed uninterrupted. If you can not abide by the rules of this court, I will be forced to do something I do not wish to do,” he reprimanded.

“
I will do as you ask, if you do as I ask and call me Etta. I gave up all the trappings of my former life three years ago, including the use of my last name. Now I’m know legally as “Etta,” you know like, Cher.” Her full lips spread into a wide grin. “Since you’re throwing out threats, tell me Judge Handsome, what exactly are you threatening to do, exactly?”

His breath caught.
She has a beautiful smile
, he thought. He shook his head deciding he needed to get this over with and quick. His body was betraying him!

“
You don’t want to know,” he murmured. “Now get back over there,” he pointed.

“
Yeah. I do.”

“
This is madness! Where is the director? Shouldn’t you be yelling cut or something?” Keigo bellowed with a deep scowl.

“
Stop film!”

The director nearly skipped up to his bench. It was apparent he was pleased by the woman’s antics in his courtroom.

“
Judge Keigo, just keep going like this. This is priceless! I couldn’t have done better if I had chosen an actress to come in here and stir things up.” He slapped the top of the bench and chuckled. “She is wonderful and she looks great on camera. That impish dimpled smile of hers caught us off guard. It was a priceless close-up shot and free to us. What more could you ask for?”

“
Okay, I give you that. She does have an unassuming prettiness, but--” Keigo saw her laughing and shaking her head along with the chuckles of the audience and realized the entire courtroom was hearing everything. His face flushed red and he threw his hand over his attached microphone. “Dammit, Marco, I’ve had a long freakin’ day, my gut is killing me and I’m in no mood to continue this dancing with
her
any further. This should have been a cut and dry case, so just let me make my ruling and let’s call it a day!”

“
Look, we’re friends so you know I’m not going to bullshit you on this.” Marco stated. It was a sign to Keigo that his friend was in a creative mode, seeing Emmy awards on his shelf. There was no way he was going to allow him to wrap this us quickly.

“
Keigo, I know they’ve already spoken to you about renewing for twenty more episodes, but you know how fickle this business is. If I don’t pull off something grand, they may get a new director. Hey trust me.”

“
Uh oh, you’re playing on the friendship and the ‘trust me’ card,” Keigo moaned. “It’s going to be a long afternoon isn’t it?”