CHAPTER 4
Celeste woke up in a big bed. Beside her was Rafael, his breathing slow and even. What time is it? She glanced at her watch. It's only nine. "I've been asleep for two hours." She stood up, careful not to disturb Rafael. She grabbed her duffel bag off the floor and went to take a shower. Rafael came in while she was drying, thirty minutes later.
"You're beautiful," he whispered, more to himself than to her.
"Thank you, now get out!" She wrapped the towel around her body and went to close the door.
"I'm not looking. You just walked into my field of vision when I was about to step out. And Monique called. She said that Autumn's awake and wants to talk to all of us."
"All right. Rafael, did we . . . ," She looked away, embarrassed as she remembered her dreams. ". . . You know?"
"You don't remember?"
"I have vague memories, but I don't know if I dreamed them or if they're real."
He smiled and raised an eyebrow. "It's all your doing. I asked, you refused, I didn't press, and we fell asleep. That's all."
"Thanks."
"For what?"
"For not taking advantage of me."
"You know what's weird, I had similar dreams."
"You did?" Celeste couldn't tell if he was joking or not. "What were they like?"
"Well, I'm not sure that you would want to hear them. They're probably the same as yours, only, different . . . ," He blushed, something she had never seen him do before. ". . . things . . . happened."
"You aren't going to tell me, are you?"
"No, it's too embarrassing."
"I never thought you could get embarrassed, Rafael." Celeste walked by him. She slipped on a pair of raggedy old jeans and a tank top while he showered. How can he think I'm beautiful? I have scars all over my body, my breasts are too small, I'm overweight, and my hair's dry and lifeless. Celeste thought as she studied her figure in the mirror. Could he really fake that look in his eyes?
"Hey!" Rafael stuck his head out the bathroom as she was putting on her makeup and jewelry. "Celeste, bring me a towel!"
"Coming!" Celeste slipped on her shoes and handed him the towel off the floor. "Don't you have others?"
"They're in the washroom. You can fix you something for breakfast if you want."
"Alright." Celeste turned towards the kitchen. She stopped when she saw a picture of a woman on the wall. She had big, brown eyes, long black hair, and dark chocolate skin. The same as Rafael. Is this his mom? She didn't want to know why he had a picture of his mom when he'd never met her.
"What are you looking at?" Rafael came up beside her, dressed only in a pair of jeans.
"Who's this?" Celeste showed him the picture without meeting his eye. He took it and sighed.
"My mother."
"Where'd you get it? I thought you said you'd never met her."
"I didn't. I was sent to a foster home in the city where I was born when I was a teen. I looked in the phonebook for my mom. I found a woman with my last name and sneaked over to her house. Turns out that she was my grandmother. When she saw me, she decided that she would foster me. She got custody of me when I turned fourteen."
"What happened?"
"She died on my eighteenth birthday." Rafael put the picture back and continued to stare at it. Celeste turned to him and wrapped her arms around his waist, laying her head on his shoulder. His arms instantly surrounded her, holding her close.
"What happened to you?" Rafael noticed the way she stiffened whenever her childhood was mentioned.
Her voice was hesitant and soft. "My mother was raped. She couldn't afford an abortion, nor did she want one, so she went to work for a white man after I was born. His name was Douglas. She married him when I was five. He started beating her. He'd sell her to other men and hide his drugs in her. He eventually killed her. I was eleven when he started using me as a replacement. I didn't have any other choice than to stay with him. I fought more than my mother did. She used to say that the reason she stayed and didn't try to escape was because he was our only way to survive.
"She couldn't get a decent job, so she stayed with him. She always made sure that he kept his friends and drugs away me. I didn't agree with her. I would rather have taken my chances on the streets than stay there. I got my scars from where the men beat me." She closed her eyes tightly, locking away the memories. She didn't seem to notice that she was silently crying into his shirt. "When I stopped going to school, a truant officer came to the house and heard my screams. He came back with the police. They found me being raped by one of Douglas's friend and arrested him. But before the trial, Douglas took me to New York. He died by drug overdose. I just started wandering around the streets. That was where Granny Clemaree found me." A huge sob escaped before she could stop it.
"It's okay. You're alive. That's all that matters. You survived and are capable of having children and a family with a man you love and trust. Hopefully with me," he muttered under his breath.
Even though he'd meant for her not to, she heard the last. She still couldn't believe that he could love her so soon. Eventually, he picked her up and carried her back to the bedroom where he lit some scented candles, turned on some soothing music and turned off the lights. They stayed that way for a few minutes, Rafael comforting Celeste until they both fell asleep.
"Crap! She won't answer!" Desari cursed as she redialed Celeste's cell phone for the third time. "Where is she?"
"It's almost twelve. She's not that late," Selene said calmly, taking the phone from Desari before she got frustrated and broke it.
"Calm down, Desari. She's probably sleeping," Autumn said softly, trying to stay awake when all she wanted was to go to sleep. "That Brittany Jacobo. Is she still here?"
"I've seen her at the club. She talks to Paul most of the time. I think she's been asking about us, or you." Selene leaned over and turned on the TV. "We'll wake you if she comes by. You've been awake for about four hours. Get some more rest. The doc said you need to sleep as much as possible. You're having trouble staying awake just now. You'll never get to go home if you look like that."
"I've got to talk to y'all. Brittany Jacobo offered me a recording deal." Before she could say anything else, they all spoke up at once.
"Take it!"
"This is the chance of a lifetime!"
"Will y'all shut up? Let her speak!" Selene said, raising her voice to be heard over the others.
"Thanks, Selene. As I was saying, I'm not taking any recording deals without y'all."
"Why?" Desari demanded.
"Because if I do, it'll have to be after the baby's born and I might need help with her. And y'all are just as good, if not better than, me. Y'all deserve a chance, too."
"What about us?" Luke glanced at Charlie and Carlos. "We were up on that stage, too."
"That's what I'm talking about. We have our own band right here. And Celeste has written some awesome songs. We can use those. What do ya' say?" Autumn opened her eyes, even though she couldn't see. "Well?"
Desari sat down and took her hand. "I'm in."
"Me, too." Monique placed her hand on top of Desari's.
"We three." Luke, Carlos, and Charlie followed. Selene was last with a small, "Me four."
Autumn smiled. "Now I have to ask Celeste."
"Do not forget Rafael." Monique sighed softly. "I do not like it, but she will not do anything without him."
"What's wrong with Rafael?" Selene asked.
"He just," Monique looked away. "does not feel right."
"What do you mean?" Luke reached for her hand and pulled her up against his body, sheltering her from the others' eyes. Monique buried her head in his shoulder.
"He worries me."
"How?" He couldn't keep the anger coming from his voice. The thought of anyone, especially a man, hurting his girl brought out his demons.
"He just does. I cannot explain what I do not understand." Monique sounded so lost, Luke could only hold her tighter.
"Maybe you're worried about him because you're worried about Celeste," Autumn suggested.
Monique lifted her head and stared out the window. "They are here."
"Who?" Selene asked, moving up beside her.
"Celeste and Rafael." She suddenly stiffened.
"What's wrong?" Luke asked softly, so no one could hear.
"Look at them." Following her eyes, he saw what she saw. Celeste and Rafael were heading towards the entrance, holding hands and making goo-goo eyes at each other.
"So."
"They have only known each other for a few days."
"And?" He nuzzled the top of her head.
"I just do not think it is possible to fall in love in so short a time."
"It's possible," he whispered in her ear. Behind them, someone cleared their throat. Turning, they guiltily broke away. Selene was looking at them with a small knowing smile.
"You need to talk to her."
"I will." Monique promised.
Celeste greeted them as she stepped into the room ten minutes later. "Hey, everyone! Sorry we're late. We overslept."
"Overslept?" Monique raised a suspicious eyebrow at Rafael, who burst out laughing.
"We got to my house at seven last night. , slept till' nine, showered, fell back asleep, woke up again at eleven-thirty, ate, and made our way here," he explained, struggling to keep a straight face.
"What is it you wanted to tell me, Autumn?" Celeste asked, taking the seat where Monique had been sitting.
"How would you like to be a part of some big-time music group for a big-time recording studio?" Autumn felt for her hand, knowing she'd have doubts. Sure enough, when Celeste realized what was being asked, she tensed.
"I . . . I don't know." Celeste started to bite her lip, a habit she'd picked up as a child. A drop of blood started to swell up on her lip after a few seconds. Monique started to reach out to her, but Rafael was there first, whispering in her ear. "What about Rafael? He played with us." She pulled her hand back and laced her fingers through Rafael's.
"He's more than welcome to join."
"Who asked us?"
"A woman named Brittany Jacobo. She really only asked me, but I'm not going anywhere without you guys."
"What did she say to that?"
"She told me to think about it. I have. I'm not doing this alone."
"Well, what if she doesn't change her mind?" Celeste insisted.
"Then she leaves." Autumn replied, her stubborn streak showing. Dr. Daratros walked in just as Celeste was about to answer.
"Here are the release papers and a prescription form for your antibiotics and vitamins. Just fill them out and you're out of here." He stiffened as Celeste practically ran from the room, followed closely by Rafael. He explained where they would need to go to get everything, then he, too, walked out after them.
Autumn felt for the papers. "Let's get these done." She leaned back while Desari filled them out. They had only filled out one form when Rafael came in, cradling Celeste against his chest. She was silently crying, her head buried in his shirt, her whole body shaking.
"What happened? Rafael, if you have hurt her-" Monique began.
"It wasn't me! It was that sorry, no-good excuse of a doctor!" Rafael said.
"Dr. Daratros? He would never abuse a woman. You must be mistaken-"
"He hit me," Celeste interrupted between her sobs. "Rafael offered to get me a drink while I sat down. He nearly stepped on me when he came out. He called me a . . . you know. Then when I tried to get out of his way, he grabbed my hair and pulled me against the wall. Rafael heard me as I cried out, but Dr. Daratros was gone when he made it back. This isn't the first time. He's never touched me before, but he's called me names."
Nobody moved. The only sounds were Celeste's sobs and Rafael's attempts to calm her. Finally, Desari broke the silence. "We need to hurry and get these filled out."
"We're gonna go back to my house." Rafael said as he moved towards the door.
"Wait, are you going to press charges? And why are you leaving?" Monique asked, scared for Celeste.
"No, if we did press charges, it wouldn't be worth the effort. He's got money and the political standard. And if we stay here, we might encounter Dr. Daratros, which will lead to trouble." He replied. "Celeste, baby, I can't carry you outta here. Can you make it to the car?" He whispered in her ear and, at her nod, he set her on her feet, letting her lean against him until she was steady.
"Bye." She turned and hugged each of them, paying special attention to Monique, who whispered in her ear, "Be careful, Celeste. Be safe."
"I will." She faced Autumn. "Call Brittany Jacobo. Tell her our requirements. If she bites, okay. If she doesn't." She shrugged. "We can always work at the Club."