Broken (Endurance) (26 page)

"Tampon, you just never let it go." Maxwell laughed.

"I have a favor to ask you."

"Anything for you, bro."

Maxwell smiled. His brother had always been ready to support him on anything for as long as he could remember. "I'm swamped with business meetings and this thing going on with Cressida. I really don't want to leave town right now."

"Sure. You want me to come home?"

"No, I can handle the ones here. It’s the ones overseas that I can't deal with right now."

"When is the next overseas meeting?"

"There's one right there in Trinidad this week and the one next week is in the Virgin Islands, Hawaii, St. Kitts, Aruba, and next month I can't make it to the board meeting at the college. I was going to pick up Max and Mei early while I was there.  Can you?"

"Yeah, of course. I know Makayla and I will
be
happy to see them."

"Well, i
t's a surprise. They think they're
traveling back on the travel arrangements from Hell." Maxwell laughed.

"Good one, keep them humble."

"That's a challenge."

"Ah, Max is a good boy. He can do it."

"I will send you the agenda.  Winston will send all the travel info to the flight crew in a few. How is everything on your side?"

"Good. We’re buying some land right now to build a huge children's home and community for Tia."

"That’s great. We need to celebrate when it opens."

"How is Cressida?" Tamarius asked.

"I kind of... well... I had it out with her father the other day," Maxwell confessed.

"Why? What happened?"

"He told me she’s set to marry some guy."

"And what did you do?"

"I kind of told him she was pregnant with my kid so she can't and that we’re getting married."

"Maxwell, you lied?"

"Yeah, and I don't know what to do."

"Do you love her?" Tamarius asked.

"I have for years and just didn't realize to what extent."

"You asked her?"

"Yeah, but she didn't answer me back yet. In the meantime she is in serious danger. I didn't tell her, but I put an undercover security guard on her tail. I told you she’s working undercover with another detective trying to get more evidence on Blake?"

"Has anything happened?"

"Little things..."

"Say that name again?"

"Blake Carter," Maxwell said, realizing that his brother was picking up something off of that name.

"The courts let him go?" Tamarius said with surprise.

"Yeah, they didn’t have enough to hold him."

"Maxwell, this is serious, you need to persuade Cressida to stay at the mansion. She is in more danger than she knows. She wants to be with you. I can even see you two getting married. She is just scared of it failing or you one day losing interest in her. You know what I mean. I'm still going through that, although we have had many good times. That fear sneaks up out of thin air," Tamarius said.

"I know."

"Blake Carter... why am I seeing that this man committed those crimes? Oh, God on children? Why do people hurt children? They’re innocent," Tamarius complained.

"You’re saying that he did it?"

"Yeah, he did it and see they need to run DNA again he has a condition...what is Chimera?"

"Chimera?"

"Look it up and let me know," Tamarius instructed.

"I will. Thanks."

"No problem. I should get going."

"See you soon and take care."

"Take care."

Tamarius hung up and was surprised to see that Makayla and Tia had decided to walk into the old abandoned house. Suddenly Tia came running out of the house and fell to her knees and began to pray as she trembled. Tamarius ran to her side. "What happened, Tia," he asked, kneeling beside her.

"God be praise. God be praise," is all she repeated as tears rolled down her cheeks

Tamarius jumped to his feet and ran into the rundown structure. He could see a bright light shining from a room at the end of a hallway. He ran to it, shielding his eyes as he called for Makayla. Finally he heard a voice call back to him, but it was not Makayla.

Despite the blinding light, his eyes adjusted and he could see Makayla hovering on her back five feet off the ground, her hair floating weightlessly around her. As Tamarius walked closer he could see a tall figure standing beside her. He had his hand on her stomach and he spoke to her gently.

Makayla’s eyes were closed and she appeared to be in a deep sleep.

Tamarius looked at the angel. It was the Archangel Michael. He looked up and smiled at

Tamarius as he approached them. "Michael, is something wrong with her?"

"No, she is fine." Michael smiled at Tamarius. "You must take care of her... she is carrying life inside her womb."

"Life?" Tamarius said, dumbfounded.

"For now, do not tell her. Do not tell anyone.  I am her guardian. Makayla is special to our Father in heaven."

"She's special to me, too," Tamarius mumbled as he gazed at Makayla, trying to absorb everything that was happening.

"Yes, we know.  Your marriage will be blessed."

"Thank you, Jesus," Tamarius whispered.

"My Makayla... a very stubborn girl. Her father spoils her, but he also chastens her because he loves her. I am placing protection around her womb. No one must know of her condition. Do not change your plans. She will be safe to travel anywhere. She is strong and you both will have a long and happy life together." Michael looked at Tamarius.

Michael appeared to be seven feet tall with shoulder length curly hair. He was broad and muscular, and he wore armor made of gold. His cloak was a vibrant deep red. His energy filled the room as he stood next to Makayla.

"Come," Michael said, gesturing for Tamarius to stand next to Makayla.

Tamarius stood opposite Michael.

"Place your hand here," Michael instructed, indicating Makayla’s lower stomach. "Close your eyes."

Tamarius closed his eye and could see a baby as if he were in Makayla's womb.

"It's a boy." Tamarius smiled.

"She is five months."

"How is that even possible? She doesn't look..."

"Anything is possible with God. Children born to mothers who didn't even realize they were pregnant are not here by accident," Michael informed him.

"I can't wait to hold him."

"Well, enjoy your sanity. These children are a handful."

"Yeah, Uriel's a handful."

Michael smiled as he removed his hand from Makayla's womb. "Now get ready to catch her and, tell no one of this meeting. I must go. Please try to act normal," Michael said, stepping back as Tamarius put his arms under Makayla. Her body gently eased into his arms as Michael disappeared.

Tamarius held onto her like a precious gift. Her head fell against his chest as he carried her outside where Tia was still praying fervently. "He heard you, Tia. Time to go," Tamarius said, grinning.

"Is she okay?" Tia followed Tamarius to the limo.

"Yeah, she is." He stopped short of the door as Makayla started to wake.

"Where?" Makayla looked at Tamarius. "What happened?"

"You fainted," he replied.

"I did?" Makayla whispered.

Tamarius set her on the ground and held onto her as her balance returned. "Yeah, I found you passed out in there."

"I'm hungry and tired, I guess. Maybe my sugar is low," Makayla said quietly, more to herself, as she struggled to figure out what had just happened to her.

Tamarius opened the car door and Makayla and Tia got into the limo. Tamarius took one last look at the abandoned house and its surrounding property before getting into the limo.

"I want a beef roti," Makayla said.

"Sounds good," Tia and Tamarius agreed.

"I spoke to Maxwell and he needs me to go to some meetings," Tamarius said to Makayla as he sat across from her.

"Where? When?" she asked.

"The first one is here, most likely in Port of Spain."

"That's cool." Makayla looked out the window as the limo made its way into the city.

"But, the others are all over." Tamarius gazed at her. He was struggling to stay focused. All he could think about was the fact that the woman he loved was carrying his first son.

"Do you want me to stay here or just meet you in Florida for Thanksgiving," Makayla asked, assuming she would just get in his way. When Tamarius didn't answer, but continued staring at her, she smiled and shook her head. "What's on your mind?  You seem lost. Are you getting cold feet?"

"Quite the opposite."

"Cold hands?" Makayla said, being sarcastic.

Tamarius looked directly into her eyes. "I just want you to be my wife. We don't need all that fancy stuff, just you, me, a pastor and a witness," he said looking at Tia. "And God."

"Okay, what happened back there? This man is going crazy." Makayla turned to her cousin who seemed just as shocked as she was.

"Hey, don't drag me into this. I'm just lucky I was invited," Tia joked.

"We can have a huge reception back home with the whole family," Tamarius went on, not taking his eyes off Makayla.

"You’re serious."

"Very."

"You need to have a marriage license and whatever else you need."

"Cressida can get it for us, not a problem."

"My dad wants to give me away.  He kinda never got the chance," Makayla replied shyly. Her father hadn’t approved of her last two marriages and had refused to attend.

"I’m not gonna ask," he said, smiling.

"Tamarius..."

"Just marry me, Makayla."

"Why don't you do it here?" Tia suggested.

"Not helping." Makayla turned to her cousin.

"Is this what you want?" Makayla asked Tamarius.

"I know you girls like the fancy stuff, but I just want to be able to call you Mrs. Martinez."

"No regrets?"

"No regrets," Tamarius agreed instantly.

Makayla blushed as she looked away from Tamarius.

After eating a great meal they headed home. Tamarius held himself back from asking her how she was feeling at every moment. However, he wanted to know and it was killing him to have to keep such an incredible secret.