The Thrill Of It All II
The Setback Pt 4/A Bittersweet Meeting Pt 1
Tiana woke up later than usual the next morning feeling very hungry. She dressed and hurried down the stairs to find Dorothy scrubbing the floor.
"Good afternoon Dorothy. Is Daniel still in his room?"
She shook her head. "He left with Mr. Montreuil hours ago. They're in the Quarter today."
Tiana found it strange that her husband would take their son to the French Quarter without her. "Did he tell you why?"
"Child can't a man and his son spend a day together?" Florence walked into the room. "Are you hungry?"
Tiana waved at her. "I'll eat out..."
"Jacques instructed me to tell you to stay inside today," Florence told her.
Tiana rolled her eyes and walked toward the foyer.
"Girl I'm tryna help you here!" Florence said as Tiana closed the door.
()()()()
Daniel sat bored at the barbershop while his father was getting his mustache trimmed. They spent most of the day in the building and the only fun he had was playing with his marbles, but his father quickly stopped that from continuing when a woman name Dance came into the room.
He watched the way his father was touching the woman and didn't understand why he was doing it. And when she kissed him on the cheek it angered him because the woman wasn't his mother. Who along with his grandmother, Charlotte and even Florence would tell him that he will have to respect and love his wife when he grows up. As disgusting as the thought of having to kiss a girl is, he knew to never betray her. And he swore that he would never tell his mother about this Dance woman kissing his father.
"Daniel! Come on boy!"
The young boy snapped out of his trance and ran behind his father who was already leaving the barbershop.
"She never listens," Jacques said, spotting Tiana across the street with Mildred. He crossed the street.
"Daddy! Wait!" Daniel shouted.
"So you came out any way!" Jacques glared at his wife, grabbing her by the arm as Mildred eased away. "I wanted you to stay inside!"
Tiana looked around. "Where's Daniel?"
"Don't hurt mama!" Daniel ran across the street as a car was quickly approaching his way.
Tiana saw this and screamed. "Daniel!"
The young boy froze in the middle of the street as the car neared him and covered his face in anticipation. The driver realized the boy and hit hard on breaks. Stopping just an inch from Daniel.
Tiana hurried over to her son, pulling him onto her chest. "My baby..." tears ran down her cheeks.
Daniel was in a state of shock for a second but cried soon after.
"Let's go home," she whispered and carried her son passed a dumbfounded Jacques with a feeling as if her life flashed before her eyes. She don't know what she would've done if she lost Daniel. Especially when she was still mourning Naveen.
()()()()
The car ride back home was a blur and so was the day because by the time Tiana snapped back to reality she was kissing her sleeping son goodnight.
"He's going to stay in that bed darling," Jacques said by the door.
Tiana sighed, standing up and leaving the room without saying a word.
"Darling, I know that you're upset—
"Upset?" Tiana asked, still angered with her husband. "You don't know the half of how I feel! Because of your obsess need to control every single thing I do you almost got our son killed!"
"Correction my wife...," Jacques stepped over to her wit ha smirk. "YOU almost got our son killed for being hardheaded. If you were at home like you were told to be then perhaps you wouldn't be in the mental state that you're in!"
"You're blaming me? You didn't even bother taking his hand...you know what? Forget it!" Tiana walked away from him. "It isn't worth talking to you about anything because you will always blame me! It's my fault that Daniel almost got hit by a car, its my fault that I can't keep you home, it's my fault that you beat me, it's my fault that I had multiple miscarriages. I never win with you and I'm tired of it! I'm tired of this marriage! I'm tired of you!"
Jacques stepped over to Tiana and pulled her into his arms.
"Let me go!" she tried getting out of his hold.
"Not until you hear me out..." he said.
"I'm not going to hear out anymore of your fabrications Jacques! I'm through! We're through!" she headed for the door but was pulled back.
"You're not leaving this room," Jacques said.
Tiana pulled her arm away before quickly leaving with her husband behind.
"Tiana!" his voice boomed.
She hurried down the stairs to the living room where both Florence and Dorothy were cleaning.
"You get back up these stairs!" he ordered.
"I'm not doing anything!" Tiana shot back and heard him groan, stepping down the stairs.
"Florence, Dorothy. Get out of here!" he shouted.
Both women hurried out of the room just as he charged over to her. "Darling, I'd advise you to return to our bedroom. Now" he demanded with gritted teeth.
"No!" Tiana said. "Its about time I stop following your orders whether you want me to or not."
Jacques stepped up, towering over her. "I'm your husband and provider! And for that you must morally as a wife and woman obey my every needs!"
"You lost those respects the moment you took my life from me!"
"Well if that's the case," he grabbed a chunk of her hair, making her scream and pulled her off the couch. "Stay on that floor then you filthy dark piece of shit!"
Tiana backed onto the couch.
Jacques took a pen from his pocket and got down to Tiana's level. "I could kill you and nothing would be done about it." And pressed the pen against her face. "Would you like a scar on that pretty face of yours? Or...," he ran the pen down her neck. "...would you like it on your swan like neck."
"Stop it!" Tiana tried to show no fear.
Jacques chuckled, standing back up. "I can always leave and divorce you for one of the stupid young whores who throw themselves at me, and if I'd get bored I'll go to one of my mistresses. Of course I would leave them...because you know why? No other woman is good enough for me like you." He pulled her up. "You challenge me and I like that."
Tiana stepped away from him and heard his laughter.
"I got to give it to you, Tiana, you know how to win an argument. Which is why my grandfather's words couldn't be truer," Jacques walked around her. "He always believed that the best two places a woman should be is in the kitchen and the bedroom. But for me I'd rather have you naked on my bed," Jacques scooped Tiana in his arms and carried her up the stairs.
Tiana slapped at him as she was brought back upstairs. "Let me go!"
"Not tonight darling!" Jacques held on to her. "Like a good husband I have to remind you on who orders who!"
Florence shook her head just as the doors slammed.
"I don't get it," Dorothy said. "Why don't she just leave?"
"Because he will always be two steps ahead," answered the older woman. "You don't think she tried before?"
Dorothy rubbed the very visibly old scar on her arm. "Then she should try harder and not give up. Before its too late."
()()()()
"Mama! Mama! Wake up!" Daniel shook her arm.
Tiana opened her eyes to see her son.
"You missed breakfast again!"
"What time is it?" she asked.
"Ten minutes after one," Daniel answered, climbing on the bed. "Florence said that you were getting your beauty sleep," he looked at her face. "Where's the beauty?"
Tiana smiled. "Its an idiom, baby. She didn't really mean it."
Daniel was still puzzled. "You already have a beautiful face."
"Alright Mr. Montreuil...its time for mama to get up," she set one leg onto the floor and winced at the soreness at her assaulted area. But didn't want her son to notice and slipped on her housecoat. "You want to stay here while I take a bath?"
Daniel nodded and sat at the vanity table.
"I won't be long," she walked into the bathroom and drew her bath water. Once it was done she stepped in and sighed as her body relaxed. She was out in fifteen minutes and dressed while her son was busy playing with the family jewelrybox at the table.
"How do I look?" Tiana was now wearing a peach coloured sundress.
Daniel looked back at her. "Very pretty."
She kissed him and grabbed her hair brush. "Thanks baby."
"Daddy wants to send me away," he confessed.
But Tiana already knew. "You're not going anywhere."
"Do you think you can call and tell Naveen to take me back to Maldonia?" he asked.
Tiana sighed as her heart broke for the boy again. "Baby there's something I need to tell you about Naveen—
"Tiana you got an important call from Charlotte," Florence interrupted and waved at Daniel. "And that dog is ready for you baby!"
Forgetting about what his mother was about to bring up, Daniel ran out of the room.
Tiana sighed and made it downstairs to answer the phone, "Lottie?"
"Oh Tia honey I need for you to get over here to try on these dresses!" Charlotte answered.
"And that's what's important? New dresses?" Tiana rolled her eyes. "Why am I not surprised?"
"Okay and there's shoes and...I made beignets..." Charlotte said nervously.
"You made beignets?" Tiana grew interested in the conversation.
"Yes, so come on over here! Both you and Daniel and that dog!" she said.
"Alright," Tiana nodded. "We'll be there in a half an hour."
()()()()
"Oh look at ya Tia! Always as pretty as a magnolia in May!" Charlotte hugged Tiana.
"You're very pretty yourself, Lottie," Tiana smiled.
"Where are the beignets?" Daniel asked.
"Just like a man," Charlotte pulled from the hug and took the young boy's hand. "Follow me," she walked through the livingroom. "Come on Tia! My beignets are almost as good as yours!" she opened the door to the dining room.
"I think Tiana's is fluffier," Naveen held an already bitten beignet, standing at the table.
Tiana's heart stopped, her hands covering her mouth.
"Naveen!" Daniel smiled and ran over to the man. "Look mama its Naveen!"
Charlotte saw her friend and could feel the emotions just by looking at her. She was also shocked when Naveen called her and wanted more than anything to help her friend and son get out of the life they were enduring.
"Danny honey let's give ya mama and Naveen some privacy. I'll get you a glass of milk with the beignets ya granddaddy made...oops!" she covered her mouth. "Come on before ya mama catches on..." they hurried out of the room.
Naveen walked up to Tiana who remained frozen at her spot and lifted his hand to gently caress her moisten cheek.
"Tiana...,"
She opened her mouth to speak but Naveen's lips pressed against hers before she could say anything. Wrapping her arms over his shoulders, she stood on her tiptoes to deepen the kiss.
It all felt like a dream that she didn't want to wake up from. Is Naveen really alive and kissing her at this moment? Was the love of her life holding his strong arms around her waist, and pressing his hard masculine physic against her smaller but curvy figure?
His mouth tasted like perfection. He was perfection and very much alive.
Or was he?
The kiss ended with Tiana slowly pulling away and asking, "Is it really you?"
Naveen's lips formed a smile as he answered, "Let me show you...," pulling her in for another kiss.
Charlotte sighed, watching the two. "I have a good feeling that this will end well."
"Who are you looking at Aunt Lottie?" Daniel asked before stuffing his mouth with a beignet.
"Happiness," she smiled with teary eyes. "Absolute happiness."
()()()()