Back There Again (Chapter IV)
Dressed, they left their bungalow. Miranda had managed a simple hairstyle with her braids that complimented the black romper she was wearing. Her heels kept getting caught in the crevices of the walkway, so she took them off until they reached their destination.
Because they didn't have reservations, they couldn't go to the resort restaurant. Which was fine with her, she wanted to take a drive through the island. The half-hour trip to another restaurant was fun as they smelled the air, listening to the sounds outside of the car against the music inside. She looked over as Ben danced to the radio, touching her chin. "What would I be without youuu? I only think about youuu. Yeah!" He sang making her blush.
"You'd be sad, pitiful and alone," she answered monotonously cutting into the song, a smile deceiving her response.
"Absolutely."
The restaurant was small, busy and very hot, but the food and staff had great ratings. As they walked into the building, a small child tried wiggling pass them out of the door, heading for the stairs. "Grab her!" A voice shouted above the noise.
Ben blocked the exit and Miranda reached down to pick the brown-skinned girl up easily. "Where are you off to?" She asked the girl who stared at her with a wide smile on her face. Miranda felt her heart melt into her chest. The girl touched her cheeks with both hands, babbling.
"Oh, praise Jesus!" A man said holding out his arms. The tiniest bit of Miranda wanted to hold her a little longer. Nevertheless, she handed over the girl. "Thank you. She's so darn fast."
"Almost got past us," Ben replied which was for the best because Miranda had a lump in her throat.
"Yeah, I turn my back for a second and zoom… Taryn morphs into Shelly-Ann Fraser."
The three adults laughed. Miranda looked at the girl to see her staring back with her thumb in her mouth. The former managed a smile and a "hi" accompanied by a wave. The girl pushed her face into her father's chest. Through all of this, Ben and the man had been talking around them. "I… I'm going to get in line."
"Thanks again," the man said to her.
Ben joined her after a few minutes, grabbing her from behind. "You're okay?"
"Just hungry," she lied subtly. After ordering, they roamed across the street to a store, getting souvenirs for as many people as they could remember. Miranda held up a shirt that she wanted to get for Tuck. Ben laughed. "What?" He lifted something from his shoulder. Opening it, she saw that he had the exact same shirt. "Copycat."
"What size did you get?"
"Large."
"I got a medium."
"Large," they said together. Back at the restaurant, their food still wasn't ready, so they sat on the small beach in the back facing the water, sipping beers while they waited. "I hope it comes soon. I'm starving," she said draping her legs over his. He stroked her smooth skin, his eyes closed. Miranda glanced at him over the top of her beer. Damn, she was lucky.
"You really look good, babe," he said getting her attention. His fingers crept higher finding more of her gorgeous, thick thighs. Ben played a silent song across her stretchmarks.
And it was her turn to close her eyes as she enjoyed every second. "Thank you, sweetie. You look handsome as always."
Moaning, he replied: "Aw, shucks." Her phone beeped and she saw a text from Callie asking how the trip was so far. "Who's that?"
"Nosy. It's Torres."
"Oh, tell her 'thanks' for me, please."
Miranda nodded and shot off a few messages with Callie asking if she'd been vaccinated for baby fever. She laughed while she texted back a few laughing emojis, really wanting to tell her best friend that it was entirely too late. She had the bug.
"Aye, Warren! Food's ready!" Someone called out. "Warren!"
She dropped her legs and clasped his hand as they went to the register. "Want to eat on the beach?" Miranda found herself asking.
Her question was met with a resounding "Yes".
Back in their spot, they began eating. One thing she loved about being in The Bahamas were the beautiful vibes that surrounded them whenever they mingled with the locals and other tourists. People milled around the couple as they split a few dishes. Miranda made a mental note to leave a review of her own praising the restaurant's food. Part of her wanted to freeze some of it to take home with her. As she chuckled at her own goofiness, Ben reached over to take a piece of meat. And, in unlike Miranda fashion, she didn't object.
A few meters away, the little girl and man from earlier were passing by them with three other additions, a woman and two boys, one that was a few years older than Taryn, another a year or two older than that. They walked toward the parking area. Her throat started to close once again and unbeknownst to her, tears were seconds away. The kids moved sluggishly and the mother prodded them along, tiredly, carrying Taryn. The smallest boy sat down on the sand, crying loudly. "Shhh…" She said trying to soothe him. Miranda had to strain to hear their voices, but soon the father was picking the child up and putting them on his back. "He's too big for that."
"I know. I know," he said as the kid dropped their head onto his shoulder.
Miranda wiped a tear away, unaware that Ben was staring at her. When they were out of sight, she sighed. "So," she said clearing her throat, putting another piece of pita bread to her lips, "did we get something for everyone?"
He shrugged. "Whatever we don't get, we can get at the airport." The laugh that fell from her lips hurt. "Ready to get back?"
"I am."
The trip back to their bungalow imitated the night, cool and quiet. Ben held her hand, kissing the back of it occasionally. Arriving, Miranda told her husband that she was going to take a walk. "Want company?"
She shook her head. "I'll be back shortly."
"Want a blanket?"
"Yes." He ran inside to get her one, placing the thin covering over her shoulders. "Thank you."
He took her shoes and she poked out her lips signaling that she wanted a kiss. Obliging, he bent down, planting his lips on her. "Be safe."
"I will."
Truly alone for the first time in a while, Miranda wandered the beach. She saw three people floating and laughing in the water and smiled. A crab scooted by and she watched it walk toward the shore, taking her attention. Everything out here was so lovely and serene. Halfway through her trip back up the beach, her tears returned. She was sobbing now—so hard, in fact, that when she came upon the chairs where she'd met Janet, she slunk into one of them, trying to compose herself. Her emotions were all over the place. She wasn't sad, but she also couldn't stop crying.
When her body had finally purged as may tears as it could, Miranda sniffled and looked over the waves. It reminded her of seeing the little family. The idea that that could be her and Ben in an alternate universe was a powerful feeling. Having children wasn't as easy for her as it was for other people. It had taken several tries to even conceive Tuck. And she'd had devastating anxiety from learning that she was pregnant all the months leading up to his birth. But raising him was the most amazing thing. And if she and Ben had a child or two, they'd be just as perfect.
But that little girl…Taryn… seeing her had overwhelmed her. It had happened so suddenly, forcefully. Okay, so she wanted more, but what if her body didn't cooperate the way it was supposed to? That was a pain she wasn't ready for. Miranda tugged the blanket around her body, enjoying the sound of the water kissing the sand. Soon, her eyes were closed and she was asleep. "HELP! SOMEBODY! PLEASE! HELP!"
The scream curled up her spine and she jumped up, frantically, her heart racing and her vision blurry. "Where?!" She asked, looking for the voice.
"Oh, my God! Here! Here! Over here! Please!"
Running to the edge of the water, Miranda saw two bodies lying on the shore and another young woman was coughing and yelling nearby. The three of them were all drenched. Miranda recognized them from snorkeling the other day. The girl she knew had the name of a car. Caprice? Porsche, maybe? "Oh, my God," she said dropping beside one of them, feeling their pulse. "Weak, but… it's there," she said to herself before grabbing the other's wrist. "Shit!" She pulled out her phone and tossed it to the woman. "Look in my history and call 'Ben Warren'."
The girl didn't even reach for the phone, her body sat heaving in the sand. "Len… Rif…"
Miranda took a breath, trying not to snap. "Sweetie…" She puzzled her hands, beginning compressions. "You have to help me if you want me to help them," she said. "Okay? Pick up the phone and right at the top should be 'Ben Warren'. Call it and put it on speakerphone.
"Oh… okay."
"Good." Miranda humped against one of the young men trying to perform a miracle as the phone began ringing in the dark silence. "Come on, son."
The sound of Ben's voice both comforted and irritated her. "Miranda, you'd better be—"
"Hush! I'm okay, but come to the beach, now! And call 919. Now! Now!"
"I'm on my way."
"What's your name?" Miranda asked trying to calm them both down. Her heart hadn't stopped thumping since. It was one thing to be at the hospital and knowing that at any moment something traumatic could happen versus being asleep on the beach and being yanked awake by a scream.
When she didn't answer, Miranda asked again. "Mercedes."
"Right, Mercedes. Okay, I'm Miranda. Do you remember me?"
"Yeah."
"So, tell me what happened," she put her face to the young man's chest. Nothing.
"We… we… we were drinking," Mercedes said. Miranda hovered over him, cursing and restarting CPR. "And Lenny…" She pointed to the one knocking on death's door. "H-he… he dared us, me and Sharif, to come to the water with him and..." The woman stopped talking. Miranda knew what happened next—stupidity. "We went swimming and the water came s-so fast. I pulled them out, but…"
Miranda pushed on the young man's wet chest. "Damn it! Come on, Lenny!" She called out as sweat poured down her face even as cold as it was. Her braids flapped around her head, nurturing a growing headache. She prayed that they'd all be okay. No sex on one honeymoon and a death on the other would make her crazy.
Ben was by her side soon, checking on Sharif whose eyes were open. He tried sitting up and fell back down. "Okay, okay, okay. Relax. Relax, fella," he was saying using the flashlight on the back of his phone to check the young man's pupils.
"His name is Sharif. How is he?"
Ben sighed. "I think that he's as good as he's gonna be on this beach. Are they drunk?" He asked.
"Very," Miranda replied.
"You good? Want me to take over?" He asked. Miranda shook her head and kept going, keeping time in her head. "Come on! I'm on my honeymoon, Lenny! Don't do this!"
"They're close. I can hear sirens." Beneath her, Lenny convulsed, spurting water from his mouth and hacking loudly.
"Oh, God!" Mercedes shouted. "Lenny!"
Exhaling, Miranda moved out of the way and let Ben finish helping him. She dug her hands into the sand, trying to catch her breath. The paramedics came and she relayed all pertinent information. The save hadn't been perfect, but the three young adults ended up on the ambulance, mostly alert and safe. Maria and Gregor had come down to the beach as well as some of the other guests including Janet and Milo. Everyone thanked them and in true Ben fashion, he made it known that he hadn't done anything and Miranda had done everything. "My wife deserves all of the glory," he said holding her tightly.
She yawned and shook her head, so exhausted that she almost didn't hear Maria saying that she'd be sending over food from the kitchen shortly. "Thank you," Miranda said as the older couple hugged and kissed her profusely, relieved.
As they walked back to their bungalow, Ben practically held her up. Her legs were shot and her arms felt rubbery. He kissed the top of her head, asking: "Would now be a bad time to bring up sex on the beach?"
Miranda kept her eyes closed, saying: "Do you want me to drop you to your knees?" She knew he was joking in the moment, but she'd thought about it a time or two, still completely unsure about trying again.
He stopped walking and they made eye contact, one smiling and one lasering. "Please."
"I hate you," she laughed as they continued on their way.
"You love me."
"I do."
In the bungalow, she really wished there was a tub because she could barely stand long enough to shower. Afterward, she lay in bed waiting for Ben to come out of the bathroom. Her shower had been quick & much-needed, but she really needed his body to keep her warm. Rain began to fall heavily and then there was lightning and thunder. As he came out of the bathroom, her husband closed the balcony doors. The food arrived shortly after, the bags and boxes wet, but nothing ruined. They dove into it, famished.
On the bed, they faced each other and he wrapped himself around her. "What you did tonight? I mean, I've seen you do it plenty of times before, but I'm… I'm in awe each time. You truly have superpowers." He must have still been a little tipsy from the homemade beer the owners had sent over because the words spilled out of him easily. And she listened, appreciative. "You're phenomenal, do you know that?"
"Yes." She sighed into his chest. "But it's still nice to hear."
"Good. Because you are a rockstar, Miranda Bailey-Warren." Miranda smiled and didn't respond wanting that to be the last thing she heard before falling asleep.
The night they'd had plus the rain made them sleep most of the day away. And it was still pouring when Miranda got up at 11-something. Quietly, she picked up her phone to see that Janet had texted her several times letting her know that Mercedes, Sharif and Lenny were all okay and doing well. They'd packed up their things and had taken the first flight home. Also, because of the rain she and Milo weren't going touring. That was good news for Miranda because she wasn't in the mood to go anyway. Not after last night.
She shot her new friend a message before dialing her ex-husband's number needing to check up on her son and to hear the seven-year-old's voice. She knew he was fine, but she needed to make sure for her own sake. Seattle was three hours behind The Bahamas and, she was cutting it close, but hopefully, Tuck wasn't yet at school. After the eighth ring, she heard his voice. "Hello?"
"Hi, baby," Miranda answered putting her hand to her chest.
"Mommy!"
"How are you?"
"Hmm… I'm good." His little "hmm" got her every time. It was so strange what kids picked up. And he'd gotten that from Ben. She asked about his time with his dad. "It's good. I'm eating cereal."
"I hope it's nutritious."
"Daddy, what's this cereal called?!" A deeper voice in the background replied. "Coco Krispies? Are they 'tritious?"
"Not really, but that's okay," she laughed. "So, you're alright?"
Crunching. "Yeshf."
"I'll see you in a couple of days."
"How many?" Tuck asked before chewing into his cereal again.
Miranda tried to figure it out, but lost count. "Just a few more and then I will get to hug you and give you one million kisses."
"Yay!"
"Yay!" She echoed, turning and leaning on the deck. Ben was propped up in the bed with arm behind his head looking at the TV. He was so handsome and it still blew her mind that they were together and would be for the rest of their lives.
Tuck's little voice brought her back. "Mommy?"
"Yes, baby?"
"Did you get me something?"
She grinned. "Maaaybe." His giggle set a flame in her chest. Maybe she could go for another one of him. When their conversation was over, she sauntered back in the large room.
"That was our boy?"
The feeling in her body intensified. She wasn't exactly sure how to tread the whole "stepfather" conversation now that they were actually married. There was a conversation or two beforehand, one with him and one with Tucker, but nothing had been finalized and that unnerved her. But one thing she wouldn't do was stop Ben from claiming Tuck. Her husband and son loved each other and, in her eyes, Tuck was lucky that he had two fathers who cared about him. "Yes," she said crawling into bed.
"He's good?"
"Perfect."
"Good," Ben responded kissing the top of her head. She looked up. "Hmm… Good morning."
"Good morning."
He reached for her hand, playing with it. "I figured I could go out in that tumultuous rain and get us some lunch from the restaurant."
She nodded. "I hear the pizza is splendid—the best on the island."
"It's probably the only pizza on the island," he said.
"Uh, and none of that fruit and weird vegetables on pizza thing," she told him as they both got off of the bed. "Don't get to The Bahamas and get experimental."
He chomped his teeth at her. "I like experimenting."
Miranda laughed him out of the door and on the balcony, she watched him hike toward the restaurant with the rain and wind blasting against his face. While he was gone, she settled in bed, playing music and continuing her book. Janet called her and she answered it with a smile on her face. "Hello?"
"Dr. Bailey!"
"Hey, girl. What's going on?"
"What are you guys doing tonight?" She asked.
Miranda shrugged and wiped imaginary lint off of the covers. "It was a long night last night, so we'll probably just… stay in, listen to the rain, relax. You know, newlywed things."
"Newlywed things?" Janet asked with a snicker.
"Yes."
"Is that code for sex?
"You're raunchy," she told her with a grin, "and yes."
Janet's laugh got bigger. "Well, since it's not thundering and the rain will let up a little later, Milo and I were going to go out on his yacht. Maybe an overnight trip and… and I thought maybe you two might want to join us."
"Uhh… I'd have to ask Ben," she answered trying to withdraw politely. "He might have plans or something?"
"Plans, huh?"
She shrugged. "Yep."
"So, why pray tell did he tell me to call and ask you?"
Miranda scoffed. "Really?"
"Mmhmm."
In the background, she could hear him saying: "I told you she would try and—"
"Put him on the phone please."
"Hey, baby," Ben said and she shook her head.
"Unh-uh, don't you 'hey, baby' me. We have plans," she told him.
"We do?" She nodded silently. "What are they?" He told her that no one else could hear her. "Come on, say it," he whispered.
Miranda blushed. "Never mind. Just bring the food. Bye."
"Okay, but—"
"Put Janet on the phone please."
"Hello?"
"We're in," she said smiling so that the genuineness would come through. Extremely pissed, she tried to force herself to go to sleep so she didn't have to see the adorably inane face of her husband, but her hunger wouldn't let her. Miranda pulled the sheet and comforter over her head and, through the raindrops, listened for the sound of the door opening. "Oop!" She squeaked when she heard him coming. She closed her eyes with a smile hidden beneath the covers.
The door closed rather loudly. "Is she asleep?" She heard him ask himself, putting something on the table. He walked around to her side of the bed. "The pizza is gonna get cold." Quietly, she ignored him. "And then she's going to be upset at me when it doesn't taste as good." God, she wanted to respond so badly. "And somehow it will be my fault."
"It would be," Miranda said, forgetting that she was supposed to be silent. "Damn it."
"Unh-huh, I knew you weren't sleep. Why'd you hang up on me?"
She squinted up at him. "Why'd you put me on the spot like that? You embarrassed me in front of Janet!"
"How?"
"I was trying to get out of it so we could… spend some quality time together which is why we're here in the first place."
"Okay?"
"And you'd basically already committed!" She said sitting up.
Ben pulled off his damp shirt throwing it to the floor. "First of all, I didn't embarrass you. Janet wanted to know, so I told her to call you because I assumed you would say no because of last night or so that we could make love all night." Seeing his six-pack, her nipples hardened and her stomach swirled. And immediately she knew that she was going to lose whatever argument they were supposed to have.
"I… I was, but—"
He kicked off his sneakers and took off his socks. "Secondly, if you don't want to go, we don't have to go. I'll even make the call, damn." She held air in her mouth, staring at him and taking in every piece of him. His hands went to his sweatpants, jerking them down. Now he was really upset and had no idea how hot he looked stripping off his wet clothing. Miranda eyed the front of his body, his dick poking through his briefs and forcing her to ignore everything he was saying. "And third of all, you and I—" he said staring at her fiercely. "Wait, w-why… are you looking at me like that?"
She smiled easily. "No reason."
He licked his lips. "Then stop. I'm mad."
"And naked."
"Well, I'm not naked yet," he said softening.
Taking off her nightgown, Miranda dropped it to the floor. "I guess I can wait." Ben gave a deep laugh before rushing to her. As they made love, Miranda pushed the need food away. She didn't know how to describe it without sounding like a sex beast, but she loved when they were joined together and she could feel all of him. Her limbs curled themselves around his and he navigated her body expertly. It was glorious and simply took her to another world. "Wow!" One hand went to her chest and the other to her stomach as she rolled off of him. "That was…"
He took a long breath. "Yeah, it was."
Pushing her face into his bare skin, she sighed. "I was out of character. I'm sorry."
"Nothing an orgasm won't resolve," he said and they chuckled.
"How do you do that?" Miranda asked.
"Do what?" He grabbed her hair carefully, kissing her.
"Make me feel so good."
He shrugged. "It's a gift." She jabbed him with her elbow, blushing nervously. "But, no, uh, I'm just returning the affection. You make me feel good, too."
"I do?" She asked using her nail to circle the hair on his chest. He nodded. "That's good to know, sweetie."
They dragged themselves out of bed and onto their private balcony eating and watching the rain fall. "How are we going to go boating in this?"
Ben pulled out a slice that had pepperoni and pineapple on it, folded it and offered it to her. She declined with a wince. "Milo said it'll let up and he'll have it mostly dried off in no time." He shrugged nonchalantly putting his half-eaten pizza to her lips. "Bite."
"No," she said laughing. When she did, he stuffed it into her mouth. "You're trying to choke me!"
His laugh made her smile. "Not with pizza," he said wiggling his eyebrow. "Just taste it, woman, damn." She wanted to spit it out, but she chewed it slowly, swallowing quickly. "It's good, right?"
Miranda put a hand to her mouth. "It's… not bad, but…" She made a face. "I don't ever need to have it again."
Ben chuckled and she cut her eyes at him, pushing him down on the sofa, climbing on top of him. "You're not yet satisfied?"
"I'll let you know," she said kissing him, tasting pineapple, as he held his pizza over their heads.
After coming down from another high, Ben took a shower while Miranda read. When he fell asleep, she began packing a bag for them to take on their outing: towels and her book, sunscreen, extra clothes, flip-flops… Showered and moisturized, she lay back on the bed and he moved next to her, tucking his body into hers. She stroked his head while closing her eyes, listening to the hard rain turn to drizzling. He cleared his throat. "Yes?"
"Last night…"
"Yeah?"
"Before those kids almost drowned, you seemed…" He snapped his fingers. "Elsewhere? Hmm… Is that the word I'm looking for? Yeah, like… you were here, but you weren't here." Her heart twanged in her chest as she waited to see where his inquiry was going. "Anyway, are you okay?" She nodded knowing that if she tried to speak, he'd instantly know she was lying. "You're sure?"
"I'm fine, Ben."
"Okay," her husband said simply. "But if you weren't…?"
Miranda slid her hand to his chin. "I'd tell you."
"Or you'd say you were," he countered.
"Perhaps," she chuckled. "Perhaps."