Broken (Endurance) (29 page)

"I have an even better idea. Why don't we both relax and hire a chef. I can have one of the cooks come over from the cafeteria to cook for us while we relax."

"But I like cooking."

"So do I and we have the rest of our lives to do it."

"Fine, I'm going to go work out then jump in the hot tub." Makayla walked away.

"No!" Tamarius went into an instant panic. He quickly racked his brain for a good reason while Makayla looked back at him with a puzzled glare. "I… I just need you right now." Tamarius walked to her and pulled her into his arms.

Makayla was stiff in his embrace.

"The stress... I just want to relax with you. Let’s go hang out on the private beach and watch the waves come crashing in.

"Yeah, babe, I miss you
too
,
but I need to stay in shape. I have a photo shoot coming up."

"Really? A shoot?" Tamarius ran his hand over his head. "But you look perfect."

"Yeah, sure." Makayla stepped back and walked away.

"Why don't we take a stroll and see Max and Mei?" he suggested.

"Well, that doesn't seem bad. Yeah, I’d like that."

"Let me just call the cook and dinner will be ready by the time we get back."

"Okay"

***

Max stood up from his seat in class, grabbed his books and headed for the door. He was happy to make it through another boring lecture. He looked at his watch.  It was his turn to pick Uriel up from daycare. Mei had an extra Bible study class and would be exhausted by the time she got home.

Max started to make his way to the nursery when he came across an unexpected sight. There was Samuel and Renee practically tasting the insides of each other's stomachs as they kissed. Max couldn't help but stare as if he were watching a seven car pile up in slow motion. He turned his head as they opened their eyes and took notice of him. He simply shook his head and kept on walking.

"Did he see us or was I imagining that?" Renee giggled.

"He saw us," Samuel agreed, feeling proud that his plan seemed to be working.

"Now all we need to do is wait for Mei to get out of class and create a scene in front of her. Now remember, just act natural. We are seeing each other, so get that in your head," Samuel insisted.

"Duh!" Renee replied, frustrated with his tone.

"We’ll just stand outside of the village." Samuel looked at his watch. "She normally reaches the path to the village at seven fifteen."

"You know her schedule?" Renee asked, slightly horrified that he knew so much about her timing.

"So what?" Samuel replied
feeling embarrassed.

"A little creepy if you ask me," Renee said, folding her arms across her chest.

"We have an hour to kill. What do you want to do?" Samuel felt frustrated.

"Let's find a quite place to go over this plan again. I really want to make sure I get it right," Renee answered.

While Samuel and Renee found a secluded location to go over their schemes, Mei sat in her Bible study class reviewing the book of Proverbs with professor Matthew Goodings. 

The professor believed the book of proverbs should be read repeatedly until the words entered her soul and she began to understand the teachings, to gain wisdom, insight and understanding and to be able to fully comprehend the complete bible.

Mei was learning a lot about herself. She could feel herself growing as she studied. Class ended a little later than normal tonight. Students had a lot more questions about wisdom after learning wisdom was created before the earth was formed.  Studying the book of Proverbs was opening their minds in so many ways. The professor shed light on key words in the book of Proverbs concerning wisdom, taking them past a superficial understanding of the word. He taught them that wisdom was like a divine entity that God created before earth.

This new knowledge brought so many questions. It was a deeper understanding of many things and some students understood while others strug
gled to accept these new teachings
.

Mei gathered her stuff as thoughts of holding her son and being with Max filled her mind. She was eager to get back to the hut and discuss with Max what she’d learned in class. Mei loved talking to Max about almost anything. They seemed to be on the same page with so many things and they enjoyed learning from each other.

She’d just reached the path that lead to her village when she saw Samuel and Renee going at it.

Samuel held Renee's head passionately as he kissed her forcefully. Renee had her hands slipped into his back pockets. Mei laughed to herself as she walked by, happy to see the two people who annoyed her most would now be out of her hair.

She made her way to her hut and was happy to be greeted with the intoxicating aroma of a fresh home cooked meal. Mei was happy she wasn't the only cook in the family. With Max cooking on the nights she had late classes, life was so much easier.

"Look, Mommy’s home," Max said to his son who was playing with his toys in the middle of the hut.

Uriel became excited and began to walk then opted to crawl.

Mei rushed over to pick her son up. "Baby, you’re going to hurt your knees." She dusted off his knees

"When we go home we should get him some baby knee pads." Max walked over and kissed his wife.

"I think we have some in storage from that baby shower," Mei replied. "So what's for dinner, sexy?"

"Chicken soup with dumplings."

"Mmm, Daddy made dumplings." Mei tickled her son. "Max, you think he will choke on it like last time?" Mei asked, remembering back to a hair-raising moment when Uriel had almost turned blue from choking.

"We will give him really small pieces and, besides, he has some Trini in him. He can handle choking on a dumpling," Max joked.

"Max, that’s not funny. We could have lost our baby." Mei laughed while kissing her son's forehead.

"I know, just teasing." Max smiled. "Let's say grace and eat."

"Yeah, let's pray your son doesn't choke on one of your killer dumplings."

Max laughed at Mei's remark as he pulled out a chair for her next to Uriel's high chair. After saying grace they heard a knock at the door. Max stood to answer the door while Mei continued to feed Uriel who was eating eagerly.

Max opened the door and burst with excitement on seeing his uncle and Makayla. "Oh, my goodness. When did you get here?" Max yelled. He gave his uncle and Makayla a hug.

Mei turned around and yelled, dropping Uriel's baby fork and running over to hug Makayla and Tamarius. "What are you guys doing here?" Mei asked excitedly.

"Did Dad come?" Max asked, looking past them.

"Come in," Mei said,

Neither of them gave Makayla or Tamarius a chance to answer any questions.

"We just sat down to eat," Max said.

"Well, I am impressed." Tamarius looked around his nephew’s hut. Max had done a surprisingly good job providing a safe and secure home for his family. His heart swelled with pride as he looked at the craftsmanship of the handmade furniture. "Max, you and Mei did all this?"

"Except for the bathroom, yes," Max replied.

Makayla was already hugging and kissing Uriel who just wanted to get back to eating.

Mei caught sight of Makayla's wedding ring and her jaw dropped.

"Cuz, you have a boulder on your finger."

"What?" Makayla said blushing as she placed Uriel back in his highchair.

"Don't play coy with me, woman. I was the only Mrs. Martinez in this family of men."

"I don't know what you’re talking about." Makayla laughed.

"Unk, let me see your hand," Mei demanded.

Tamarius lifted his right hand, teasing Mei. "Why?" he said, laughing.

"You guys got married?" Max yelled, looking at his uncle’s left hand and seeing his wedding band.

"When?" Mei asked, grabbing Makayla's left hand.

"October sixteenth," Makayla replied, smiling.

"Congratulations!" Max and Mei yelled.

"Wow, is this why you guys came here?" Max asked.

"No, your dad wanted to surprise you by picking you guys up instead of taking the rough travel back home," Tamarius replied. "He is tied up at home and couldn't make it."

"Yeah," Max was a little disappointed that his father was too busy to come and see him. Even though he was a man with his own family, he still longed for his father’s attention like any child.

"What am I sensing?" Tamarius asked, observing his nephews body language.

"I’m fine, Unk," Max lied.

"No, you’re not. You’re disappointed your father didn't come?"

"A little, but I’m used to it. I have you, right?" Max smiled as he looked at his uncle.

"But, I’m not Dad..."

"It's no big deal, really." Max walked over to sit on a bench.

Tamarius followed and sat next to him. "Max, your father loves you. I love you. Your father wanted to be here and is eagerly awaiting your arrival back home. Nothing is more important than you."

"Then why is he not here?" Max asked, frustrated.

"I don't think he realized you would have felt this way or he would have come himself, even if he had to drag his work with him."

"We don't talk much," Max admitted.

"I think he’s afraid to say something wrong and lose whatever relationship he has with you now," Tamarius answered.

"Never looked at it that way."

"He’s not perfect and he’s made some mistakes, especially where you’re concerned. Don't think he doesn't love you or isn't interested in your life."

"I know he does."

"We are all proud of you and Mei. Your father could have put you and your wife up to live in some other place on your own, but he wanted you to come home and live in the mansion."

"I thought that Grandpa made it so that we had to live in the mansion," Max replied.

"Only one Martinez must live in the house to keep it and maintain it."

"So we don't have to live there?" Max questioned.

"Do you want to move out?" Tamarius asked.

"No, I missed out on a family and Mei missed out on a loving family unit and our son is always surrounded by love and support. It's how Mei and I wish we had grown up. I guess it's kinda healing, experiencing it through our son."

"Good, and now our God made family is only getting larger," Tamarius said, gazing at his wife who was talking to her cousin as they both played with Uriel.

"I'm happy for you, Unk." Max smiled at his uncle.

Tamarius smiled as he patted his nephew on his shoulder. "What's for dinner? It smells good."

"Chicken dumpling soup." Max got up to fix Makayla and Tamarius a bowl.

Tamarius walked over to Uriel. "Hey, little nephew, how are you?"