The Thrill Of It All II:
A Walk In Town Can Lead To...
In the weeks that passed the Montreuil family, well, Tiana and Daniel have spent a lot of time together doing everything from shopping, visiting friends and walking the dog, or at least watching it chase his own tail around their back yard.
Tiana came to accept the mutt while it was love a first sight for him. Whenever Daniel wasn't playing with him during his tutor sessions or naps little Max would keep Tiana company in her office.
Max didn't care for Jacques at all. In fact, he was nervous around him. The pup could sense a negative energy from the man and was very protective around his young master and mother. It also didn't help that Jacques would bully the pup on the sly.
But today Max wasn't thinking of any bullies. He was out in town enjoying the fresh air with his two favourite humans. Daniel and Tiana.
"Mama, do you think daddy will be able to join us after he's done getting his haircut?" asked the very young Montreuil who looked more like a four year old.
"I don't think so, sweetie," Tiana held on to the leash as the puppy tried to sniff on passing pedestrians.
The young boy sighed. As much as he loved his mother and dog he really wanted to spend time with his father, who all but shunned him days after returning home. The only time he gets his attention is when he buys him gifts when he returns home.
"I wish he could walk with us, mama," Daniel said with disappointment hinted in his voice.
Tiana was aware of how badly Jacques treated their son. As much as he tried to change he couldn't get away from his selfishness and responsibilities of being a father. She sometimes wondered if he even loved the boy.
"Well, hey. At least you have mama and Max to keep you company," she said reassuringly.
"A girl and a dog…" Daniel looked down, clearly disappointed.
"Watch where you're walking honey. It's crowded out here," Tiana warned her son as she reached out her hand to his. "Here, take my hand."
He did just that before they crossed the street. The barbershop was just two stops down and right away he noticed his father outside the shop with a couple of men who looked very familiar.
"Look mama! Daddy is talking to Uncle Derek and Cousin Franklin!"
Tiana saw her husband with the men and two other women whom she didn't recognize flirting away. 'He has no shame.' She thought.
"Daddy! Daddy!" Daniel called out for his father and frowned when he saw his father smiling while another woman caressed his face. Out of anger he let go of his mother's hand, running towards his dad.
"Daniel!" Tiana unsuccessfully called after him.
"Take your hands off my daddy!" Daniel pushed the woman who then laughed.
"Ya lil man looks just like ya Jacques," laughed the young woman.
Jacques laughed along. "Where's your mother?"
The angered boy pouted. "I want to go home."
Tiana along with Max hurried over. "Daniel what did I tell you about running off like that?"
But the young boy remained firm. "That lady touched daddy!"
Tiana looked at her husband who returned a smirk. "Why don't you take our boy back home?"
She nodded, taking Daniel's hand.
But the young boy wasn't having any of it. "Not without daddy!" And snatched away his hand.
"Daniel Montreuil, I will take care of you when I get home, later," Jacques warned who then glared at Tiana with gritted teeth. " . ."
Tiana knew not to cause a scene. There's no telling what Jacques would say or do around his friends if she questioned him so like an obedient wife she took their son's hand and walked on. "Come along, baby."
Daniel looked back at his father continue speaking with the women and felt puzzled. "Why didn't you say anything to daddy?"
Tiana shook her head. "It's difficult Daniel."
"Why?" he pressed.
"Because it's grown folks stuff," she answered.
"Why?" he pressed again.
Tiana sighed. "Daniel…"
"Daddy's been acting mean and bossy lately," Daniel whined.
"Why would you say that?" Tiana asked, already knowing the answer.
"He doesn't talk to me anymore. We use to play ball and marbles, but now he's always gone…He doesn't love me," he said, looking down again.
Tiana saw the single tear that left her's son's eye before he lowered his head in shame. Too proud to cry in front of his mother. "Oh Daniel don't say things like that. Your daddy does love you."
"Then why is he gone again?" he asked with a shaky voice.
Before Tiana could answer her son's question the best way that she could…
"Excuse me. Mrs. Montreuil?"
Tiana turned to see two teen girls who looked to be sixteen smiling from ear to ear at her. "Oh, hello Glenda and Loretta. Is there anything you girls need"
"We were only saying hello," said Glenda.
"…and we had to let you know that your food is amazing! We'd also like to thank you again for opening the restaurant for our school," said Loretta, who happened to be the daughter of Tiana's church pastor.
Tiana smiled. "It was a pleasure having the brightest students of New Orleans at the restaurant…"
Daniel rolled his eyes as the three females spoke on about the restaurant. He squat down to rub Max's head. "At least I still got you."
The dog licked the boy's hand in response.
"And Mr. Montreuil is as handsome as ever. I hope I marry a man like him," said Loretta, looking down at Daniel. "Your son is adorable. He looks just like Mr. Montreuil!"
Glenda playfully rolled her eyes, "Loretta is smitten with Mr. Montriuel."
The young girl blushed and laughed out loud. "No I'm not!"
"You know you're lyin'!" Glenda laughed along.
Tiana shook her head. Very aware of all the young girls having a crush on her husband. He became pretty much involved with the black community since his accident and even the younger boys looked up to him for being the most successful coloured man they ever met. He was a hero to every person of colour.
"Well ladies, I have to get going. It was nice seeing you two," Tiana bid the girls farewell as she and Daniel went on down the street.
After walking for several more minutes a familiar bell caught Daniel's attention. "Mama, let's get some ice cream!"
"Daniel we have to get home! I told Samuel to pick us up by the shoes store." Tiana was ready to relax after that brief confrontation.
"Please?" He folded his hands under his chin.
She looked down at the innocent blue eyes of her son and couldn't resist. "Fine..."
Thankfully the ice cream cart wasn't as crowded, but there was a couple was before them ordering.
"Naveen darling why must we stay in this crumby little town?" asked a soft spoken woman with a heavy Maldonian accent. "The people here are pigs!"
Tiana's heart skipped beat when she heard that name. Could it really be him? She checked out his back profile and saw that it matched how she remembered him looking like. Tall, muscular built, thick wavy hair and that pearly white smile…so beautiful.
"I happen to enjoy this 'crumby town'," Naveen said with humour in his tone.
Tiana could hardly contain herself. It really was him.
"Mama I'd like chocolate ice cream!" Daniel interrupted his mother from her trance.
"What did you say, honey?" she asked.
"I want chocolate ice cream," he repeated.
"Oh…okay," Tiana rested her hand on her tummy. 'Get a hold of yourself, Tiana.' She turned away as she pulled out some money from her purse.
"Here's your double scoop of chocolate ice cream with a fresh cherry on top, sir!" The icecream man handed it to the king.
Naveen paid the man. "Thank you."
Daniel's eyes widen at the sight of the ice cream. "Mama! I want that kind!?"
Naveen heard the boy and gave him a small smile. He then saw the back of his mother and did a double take. "Tiana?" he said in almost a whisper.
The woman with him frowned and asked, "Who?"
"It's no one," he said very quickly. "Let's go." They quickly walked away but not without him looking back a couple of more times at her. It was the least he could do for his heart.
"I'd like a scoop of chocolate ice cream, please?" Tiana asked.
"No mama! Two scoops like that man," Daniel saw Naveen walking away "See mama! Like his ice cream!"
Tiana looked back and saw Naveen looking right back at them. "Naveen…" she said in almost a whisper.
"Who?" Daniel asked.
She shook her head. "It's no one, sweetie." She handed him the ice cream.
"Aw mama! I wanted two scoops," he pouted.
"Your tummy isn't big enough to handle double scoops, baby," she teased him.
Naveen helped the woman into the car and couldn't help but to watch Tiana with her son. 'Just as beautiful as I remember,' he thought before getting into the car.
The woman looked at the king with a raised brow. "Who were you just watching?"
"No one, Eliza," he answered, starting up the car.
She rolled her eyes, dropping the subject for now. "And why couldn't we hire a driver?"
"So that we could blend in," Naveen said with sarcasm but knew that he was speaking to deaf ears. "Because I'd rather us not standout and look like snobs."
"Well someone obviously stood out for you to watch them," Eliza said, taking out a cigarette.
Naveen sighed in annoyance.
"And besides," Eliza continued, lighting up her cigerette. "The only person you're supposed to be watching like that is me, your wife."
"Fiancée," Naveen corrected her.
"We'll be married soon enough," Eliza then wrinkled her nose at the sight of children playing. "I can't believe that we're making a slump city such as this one our final US stop before the wedding. New York and Chicago sounded more inviting."
"New Orleans is special to me, okay?" Naveen said in annoyance. "It's a very beautiful city..."
"It's a rat hole!"
Naveen glared at her. "If you don't stop talk bad mouthing this town then I will—
"You'll do what?" she asked with a dirty smirk. "Leave me? You've made a deal to marry me if you want to keep your precious kingdom at peace, Naveen." She rested her hand on his thigh and gave it a light squeeze. "Or did you forget?"
He mentally cursed; truly regretting to ever making any dealings with the woman. But for the sake of his kingdom and people he will have to follow duty and marry this woman. But not before getting closure from the one woman who will always hold his heart prisoner.
()()()()
Later that night at the Montreuil Estate...
"...and they lived happily ever after. The end," Tiana closed the book and watched her son sleep for a moment. It always warmed her heart to watch him sleep and tp feel safe from any harm in the world, including her husband's oblivious behavior towards him.
As she rose up to her feet the young boy stirred and slowly opened his eyes. "I'm not sleepy...," his soft voice clearly contradicting his statemnt.
Tiana smiled, having to go through this almost every night and knew the one song that would always get him to sleep since he was born.
Sitting back down on her chair she sang:
Always remember, always remember ...
Jesus, Jesus;
Always keep Him on your mind...
Always remember, always remember ...
Jesus, Jesus;
Always keep Him on your mind.
Tiana stood back up, her eyes never leaving Daniel. "Goodnight, baby." She leaned forward to place a kiss her sleeping son's forehead and made sure to give a sleeping Max's head a rub before leaving the room.
It was finally her time to relax and to even think of Naveen. The way his honey coloured eyes met with her brown eyes earlier this afternoon sent a sudden spark in her heart when seeing him for the first time in three years...
"Darling?" Her thoughts of Naveen quickly vanished when she heard Jacques singing with a slur as he made his way up the stairs. His alcohol intake wasn't so bad for the first year and a half. It was right after his complete recovery when he began taking in the drink heavily again.
"Why aren't you answering me?" He asked.
"Shh!" Tiana put a finger over her lips. "I just got Daniel to fall asleep."
Jacques shrugged. "And what does that got to do with me?"
"Why don't I run you some bath water?" She started to walk pass him until he blocked her.
"I don't need a bath woman…I need you," he took her into his arms. "Let's dance."
Tiana cringed at the stench of whiskey hitting her face. "No, Jacques…"
He tightened his hold on her, "What? Am I not good enough for you now?"
"It isn't that…," she said, not looking at him.
"Then what is it?" He asked with questioning eyes.
"You're drunk. Why don't you lie down while I make you some—ugh!" She was interrupted when he kissed her, shoving his tongue in her mouth.
Jacques lifted her right leg. "Let's make love in the hall…like we use to at the beginning of our marriage…do you not remember how wild and carefree we were?"
"No, Jacques please...," she tried pulling away from him. "Not out here…" the last thing she wanted was for her son to see his drunken father attacking his mother in the middle of the hallway floor.
"Daniel won't hear us…now be a good little wife and do as I say…" He lifted her up against the wall.
"No." Tiana pushed him back and soon felt a swift shove, her head hitting against the wall and falling onto the floor. She looked up at him, appalled.
Jacques didn't say another word as he was shocked himself. "Tiana I'm…" He helped her up. "That wasn't supposed to happen—
Tiana didn't want to hear any of it as she brushed passed him. She knew that the real Jacques would return but didn't expect it to come tonight.
Jacques followed her into the room and couldn't even look her way. As he was too ashamed to.
Swallowing the lump in her throat Tiana went to take off her housecoat before climbing into the bed. Refusing to say another word to her husband.
Jacques sighed after a few moments of his wife's silence. "How is your head?"
She remained quiet.
"I didn't mean to push you, Tiana," he apologized. "It was an accident."
"You said that you would change…" she said in almost a whisper. So enraged that she could barely speak. "You said that you would never lift a finger at me again and yet you just did."
"I know…" He got into the bed. "Darling please don't be angry with me. I'm trying."
"Not hard enough." She then closed her eyes, trying to maintain her composure.
"Darling I will admit that I lost control, but I will never hit you..." Jacques stopped. Knowing that she wouldn't say another word to him. "Fine, we'll discuss this in the morning." He took off his shirt and trousers, throwing them into the hamper and changing to his own bed attire before joining her in the bed. "Goodnight."
She remained quiet.
"I love you and Daniel," he said.
She sighed, knowing in her heart that he did despite what's been happening between the three of them lately.
Jacques wrapped an arm over her waist, ignoring her refusal of him. "Please Tiana—
"No Jacques!" She pushed him away, her eyes now glaring at him. "I won't take anymore of your pain and broken promises."
"I know and I apologize for going too far…" He reached out to touch her.
But she turned away from him again.
He then sighed disappointingly. "Well I guess I deserved that. But darling you have to give me credit for holding back for as long as I did." When she didn't respond he leaned over to place a light kiss on her temple. "I will make it up to you. Just don't give up on me."
Tiana closed her eyes as the tears struggled to fight back escaped her eyes. Her anger and hate for him was at an all time high, but in order to keep the peace in their home and their bedroom she would remain silent. For silence and her son were the two things keeping her from leaving.
()()()()
A/N: Thanks for the reviews. They really helped! Hope you enjoyed the chapter despite Naveen's situation.
The song Tiana was singing to Daniel is by Andrae Crouch
Will post chapter 3 very soon.