The Thrill Of It All II:
Like Father Like Daughter/Controlling Thoughts
The next several weeks went by very quickly and while Jacques was out of town for business, Tiana and Daniel were out more often which included visiting inner circle friends. This morning she, Daniel and Max all drove over to the restaurants, first being Jacques' grandmother and soon after her own restaurant. Once they were done she rode the car over to her parents home.
"Mama! Mama! Look!" Daniel pointed over at the house they were driving up to.
Tiana smiled when she saw her mother and father waving by their front door.
"Hurry up Shawn!" Daniel said to the driver as he started to bounce on his seat impatiently.
"Daniel!" Tiana gave him a warning look.
He stopped. "Sorry mama."
The car finally pulled up by the door and the two were soon out and greeted with hugs.
"Pee-pa! Mee-ma!" Daniel pulled from the hug. "So, where's the cookies?"
James laughed while Eudora took the boy's hand. "Why don't we wash our hands first."
James wrapped an arm around his daughter's shoulder. "You okay?"
She nodded her head. "As good as I can feel. I hope you two weren't busy."
"We were about to step back in," James closed the door after they came in the house. "You look refreshed."
"It was the rain. I slept good lastnight." And she did since Jacques was out of town.
"I heard that you got a visit from the stork?" he asked.
"No, the stork didn't come afterall," Tiana said.
James raised his brows surprised. "What do you mean?"
"The doctor misdiagnosed the pregnancy. I'm not having a baby," she said.
James sighed. "Oh babycakes..."
"You know I may sound like an icequeen, but I am truly thankful," Tiana admitted.
"Oh?" Her father was surprised with his daughter.
"The last thing I needed was to be pregnant," Tiana said.
"Well if you ever do then don't think its a curse. A baby is a blessin'" James said with comfort. "How did ya husband take it?"
"So what smells good in here?" Tiana would rather talk about something else.
"That bad huh?" James asked.
"He hasn't spoken to me since he learned," Tiana rolled her eyes. "And in a way I find it comforting, but also hurt."
"Why hurt? He ain't takin' it out on the baby is it?" James asked protectively.
Tiana nodded her head. "Daniel is completely innocent in all of this."
"But you're just as innocent. It wasn't your fault that the doctor made in error of you not being pregnant." James said, with some annoyance.
Tiana put her hand on his arm. "Daddy, I don't want you getting upset."
"I can't stand that man" James said.
"I know but I married him and there's nothing I can do," Tiana said
James shook his head. "Never say that again."
"But its true! I came back because Jacques almost killed himself and Daniel needed to know who his real father is," Tiana explained.
"If I could turn back the hands of time I would've kicked that boy out of my house the moment he stepped in it," James regretted being foolish at the time.
"I know but I came here to see you and mama," Tiana said. "Not talk about my marriage or husband."
"Then we'll leave it at that," James was concerned but respected his daughter enough to not press on about the subject of Jacques. "Now why don't we go to the kitchen and fix us a bowl of shrimp gumbo?"
"Shrimp gumbo?" Tiana raised a brow. "With some large okras?"
James smiled "Fresh from the garden."
"With hush puppies?" she asked.
James laughed. "And I made some bananas foster!"
Tiana gave him a skeptical look. "You knew we we're comin' over."
"Florence mentioned y'all may come over when we called this morning," James confessed.
Tiana playfully rolled her eyes. "Of course she would eavesdrop on my conversation with Daniel during breakfast, " they entered the kitchen where Daniel was already sitting at the table.
"Mama look at all the food pee-pa made!"
Tiana also saw all the desserts and sides on the table and sighed. "I wish I would've been here to prepare all of this with you." She kept her eyes on the fried catfish.
"You're free to always stop on by to cook babycakes" he kissed her on the head. "Y'all the guests. Now let's eat up!"
"After we pray!" Eudora added.
"My daddy doesn't allow us to pray," Daniel said and covered his mouth when he realized what he just said. "Oops!"
Eudora frowned. "He doesn't allow y'all to pray? Is this true Tiana?"
Tiana sighed. "He chooses to do what he does and I choose to what I do."
James made a disapproving noise while folding his hands. "Well we pray here...and you make sure to keep on prayin'" he looked at Daniel.
The young boy nodded his head and followed along.
()()()()
When they arrived home Daniel had fallen asleep in the car so Tiana carried him into the house and to his bed for a nap.
"I brought home some food from my parents Florence!" Tiana said, heading to her room to change. She got into a lighter sundress before heading back down the stairs to the dining room. "I knew that you love my daddy's banana's foster and I..." she stopped when she saw the older woman slumped over in a chair. She immediately ran over to her. "Florence? Florence wake up!"
The woman opened her eyes slowly and saw the worried look on Tiana's face and smiled. "I'm okay. Just tired."
"Then why don't you go and rest while I take over," Tiana suggested.
Florence grunted while shaking her head. "Now I don't want ya gettin' into trouble with ya husband."
Tiana rolled her eyes. "Jacques isn't home."
"He's on his way baby remember? He's expectin' his favourites when he gets home too," Florence said.
"I know what to do," Tiana helped her up. "You go to your room and rest. He'll understand."
"I guess ya right but I don't want ya pushin' too hard," said the maid.
"I'll be fine. Now go and rest up." Tiana said. "Do you need something to drink? Are ya hungry?"
Florence laughed. "If Jacques heard you talkin' that way he'll be-
"Doing absolutely nothing," Tiana finished. "Do you need anything?"
"I already got a pitcher of ice water in my room but thanks anyway baby," Florence smiled.
"Mmhm. Now go," Tiana said and went straight to the kitchen to put the food from her parents in the refrigerator. "Guess its just us here Max," Tiana said to the dog who was asleep in the corner of the room. "I'll be makin' his favourites but from my daddy's recipes..." she took some items from the cabinets and refrigerator and put on an apron. Feeling like herself yet again.
The dog opened his eyes and watched the woman away. Tiana would occasionally glance at Max's sad looking eyes. "Yeah, I know that he's picky, but since he's already mad at me I will cook anyway," she told the dog as she began mincing the vegetables.
()()()()
Daniel woke up a couple of hours later and helped his mother roll dough before leaving her for the dog. By the time she was done with everything she went to take a shower and dress into another sundress when she heard Jacques coming up the stairs.
"My, my, my it smells heavenly in here," he said,
"Daddy!" Daniel came out of his room.
"Daniel!" he scooped the boy in his arms. "You are getting bigger and bigger everyday! Where's your mother?"
"Here I am," Tiana opened the door and saw how impressed her husband was at her.
"You are a vision," he leaned over to kiss her on the corner of her mouth before going back down the stairs to the dining room.
"Where's Florence?" He asked.
"Florence is a little under the weather tonight," Tiana said.
"Where is she?" He asked again.
"In her room," Tiana answered. "I've been taking care of her work, which was mostly cooking."
Jacques didn't say a word as he went straight to the kitchen and noticed how spotless it was. Only the dinner she prepared was set out beautifully.
He was impressed. "You made all of this?"
"Yes, and I know that you are picky but I made all your favourites with a twist," Tiana was about to pick up the dishes until Jacques stopped her.
"I'll help you set out everything," he offered, taking the dishes out for her..
Tiana blinked, surprised with his actions. "Okay..."
()()()()
Later that night...
"I have to give it to you darling, dinner was brilliant. I love Florence's cooking but you beat her by so many miles," Jacques complimented.
"Don't tell her that," Tiana said with a smirk.
Jacques laughed, wrapping his arms around her. "I won't," and began kissing her neck.
Tiana remained still as his hands ran down her sides.
"You are my weakness," he whispered and kissed her ear. "I've missed you since the day I left..."
She rolled her eyes. "What about our son?"
"What about him?" he asked, continuing his kisses.
"Did you miss him?" Tiana asked.
"You know I did," Jacques was starting to grow irritated.
Tiana went on. "You know at the hospital...after you left that day..."
"No more talking," Jacques interrupted.
Tiana continued. "...And if I'm so much of a weakness then why did you leave after the doctor—
"Not now Tiana!" he said with force, swiftly turning her to face him. "All of that is over with and in the past."
"Steve's of all places?" She gave him a skeptical eye.
"Damned driver," he mumbled before pressing his lips onto her. "Forget about it."
"I'm not in the mood," she pushed him away.
He glared at her. "What did you just say?"
Tiana was actually startled by the way he asked the question but held her own. "I'm not in the mood."
"I just came back from a hell of a business deal, working my ass off just to give you and Daniel everything you need and for that I get nothing?" he stepped over to her.
"I made dinner," Tiana stepped back. "And you left when I needed you."
"So you're now refusing me because of that? Come on Tiana! I was upset! Grow up!" Jacques exclaimed, now angered. "You are being a child."
She could see who was really throwing the tantrum. "All of this because I refuse to sleep with you?"
"If I won't get it from you I'll get it elsewhere," he warned. "There are plenty of women who will gladly submit to me."
She rolled her eyes. "So we're back to submission now?"
"It isn't even optional. You're my wife," he said.
Tiana turned away, disgusted. "Maybe you should go to a paid whore."
"Why pay for one when I have one at home for free," he grabbed her arm and pulled her over to him.
When Tiana slammed against his chest she quickly pushed at him. "Let go of me!"
"Not this time," Jacques swooped her in his arms and walked them over to the bed. "You're going to sleep with me and you will enjoy it! I will be certain of that!"
()()()()