Broken (Endurance) (32 page)

"I know, but I have other problems there, too," Cora added as she followed Mei.

"You know he is going to be here tomorrow."

"I know"

"Are you ready to see him?"

"No, I don't want to. I still cry everyday over him. I really loved him, Mei."

"Come here." Mei hugged her friend. "Listen to me. If he is worth it, he will walk across lava for you because he knows that you are worth the risk, understand?"

"Yeah," Cora cried.

"Be strong and don't let Max see you crying or upset over Nelson." Mei turned quickly to chase after her naked son as he crawled off the bed.

"He called the house yesterday. I didn't recognize the number and I answered.  He was quiet
,
and
just as I was about to hang up. H
e said my name. I couldn't hang up. I fought back my emotions and said, ‘What?’ He was, like, speechless. He asked if I was coming. I told him I wasn't sure, He started to ask me why I was avoiding him then I told him I had to go; that my date was waiting on me. I told him it was nice to hear from him and hung up."

"Wow," Mei said as Max entered the room. "So you see, Cora, that’s how you make egg drop soup."

"I have got to try that. So the egg isn't raw?" Cora said holding in the laughter as she helped Mei dress Uriel.

"Mei makes the best egg drop soup," Max said, walking across the room and grabbing something from the dresser before heading back out.

"Cora, you’re doing the right thing. ‘We should just be friends,’ that Jack… ah, donkey," Mei said quickly correcting herself as Uriel looked at her.

"Jack donkey," Uriel repeated.

"It amazes me how they pick up all the bad words," Mei grumbled. "Now I have to explain this to his father. Why his son is calling people Jack donkey," Mei complained as Cora laughed.

Max walked back into the room.  His timing was perfect for Mei. "Babe,” Mei called out, “Can you get him a bottle?"

"Sure." He left and returned a few minutes later holding a bottle out for Uriel to grab. "When do you want to go shopping?" he asked.

"I don't know, maybe after Thanksgiving. It’s crazy right now," Mei replied.

"Hey, Mei," Makayla said, walking into their suite.

"Hey, Cuz." Mei smiled.

"Hey, Cora, how are you?" Makayla greeted.

"Good. Congrats on your marriage."

"Aw, thanks."

"Mei, your mom and sister are here. Do you want me to send them up?" Makayla asked.

"Yeah," Mei said unenthusiastic.

"Is something wrong?" Makayla asked.

"No. It's just hard. I have so many negative memories attached to her," Mei replied.

"You want me to tell her you’re busy?" Max said, trying to defend his wife's feelings.

"No, she's still my mother, babe." Mei laughed.

"It's okay, Makayla. Send her up, thanks."

"Hey, Cora do you mind taking Uriel for a second? I want to talk to Mei," Max said.

"Sure." Cora took Uriel and left the room, closing the door behind her.

"Max, I'm fine," Mei said, getting up from the bed.

Max quickly took her by the waist and pulled her close. "I just missed you." Max lifted her chin to kiss her.

"I can't believe you did that." Mei smiled.

"Hey, this mansion is getting crazier by the second. I just needed a little taste of you." Max smiled kissing his way down her neck.

"Stop it. My mom is heading up here right now."

"I'm ready to go back to the crazy island," Max whispered in Mei's ear.

There was a knock at the door and Mei knew it was her mother. "Go get your son.  She’s going to want to see him." Mei looked into her husbands captivating grey eyes.

He kissed her one more time before opening the door for Mei's mother. He greeted her kindly before leaving the room.

Mei smiled at her mom as she walked across the room to give her a hug.

"Come have a seat. Max went to go get Uriel." Mei led her mother to a couch in the lounge area of their room.

"This is really nice," Song said, sitting down on the black leather couch.

"Will you be having Thanksgiving dinner with us tomorrow?" Mei asked.

"Well, that’s why I came here to see you today. I'm not sure that I will be able to make it

tomorrow," Song replied nervously.

Max entered the room holding Uriel up like an airplane.  After a series of swoops he landed him in his grandmother’s arms.

"Hey, where is Ariaha?" Max asked his mother-in-law.

"She is hanging out with her grandmother downstairs," Song replied, hugging her grandson. "He got so big."

"You should come tomorrow and spend some time with your grandson. He doesn't get to see you."

"I will be downstairs helping Dad plan tomorrow’s dinner. I think he is trying to please everyone’s unique cravings," Max said, not really wanting to get involved in their conversation.

"Okay, we’ll be down in a little," Mei replied.

"Mei," Song began.

"What's wrong, Mom?" Mei asked.

"Your sister wants to see her father tomorrow."

It hurt Mei to think about Thomas Paulard, her stepfather who was determined to kill her and her baby. "Well, I can understand. It's her father," Mei said softly.

"The prison will be having a Thanksgiving Day thing for the inmates and families. Thomas would really like to see his daughter."

"And you... do you want to see him?" Mei asked sternly.

"We have been seeing a family counselor and a marriage counselor."

"Marriage... why would you need a marriage...?"

"Thomas is still Ariaha's father and I don't want her to miss out on having a father."

"You’re speaking of the man who murdered my father and tried to kill me and my son... your grandson."

"Mei, I didn't come here to fight with you."

"Why did you come here? You obviously care more for that man than you do me." Mei stood and took her son away from her mother.

"Mei, don't take it like this."

"How am I supposed to take it?" Mei paced as she rubbed her sons back.

"You don't understand. You've only been married for what, a year? And look at you guys. You don't have problems. You don't know what a real marriage is all about. Max spoils you like any other rich man with money. Eventually the reality is going to seep in. He will get tired of you and start looking at other women. Or not wanting to be around you so much, sending you on shopping trips so he can have some fun on the side. I know how men think. He loves you today, but what about tomorrow? What about after two or three kids?"

"Wow, so the truth finally comes out. This is how you feel about my marriage? What is it that bothers you, and don't hold back this time. Let it rip," Mei said sarcastically.

"I'm just telling you how it is."

"Nobody knows how it is... nobody. At the end of the day all we can do is love one another."

"Mei, I need my husband," Song snapped back.

"Your husband was murdered by his so called best friend," Mei cried. "You don't get it. If a man can't love your child he can't love you."

"Mei, you’re not in my shoes."

"No, I'm not." Mei kissed her son as he played with her necklace.

"I should go. It's a long drive and we have to leave earlier to get there before the other families." Song approached her daughter and hesitantly gave Mei a hug.

Mei stood still, not moving an inch, nor looking at her mother. Song left quietly, feeling remorseful.

Mei paced her room until she felt the full weight of her son's body. He’d fallen asleep in her arms. She walked into his room, laid him in his crib and removed his shoes. All the while, the words her mother had said repeated in her head. She fought back her tears as the negative thoughts began to grow stronger and stronger. She burst into tears as she walked away from her son's crib and headed for the bathroom where she locked herself in. Time passed before she heard Max calling for her. She wanted to answer, but couldn't. She ran the faucet to hide the sounds of her sobbing. It was too late. Max was already at the door.

"Baby, is everything okay?"

"Yeah, I’m fine, Max."

"Your mom left here crying"

"She did?"

"Open the door, please."

Mei slowly walked over and opened the door. Max tilted his head and looked at her.

"Why are you crying?"

"Did I do something hideous in a past life to cause my own mother to hate me?" Mei asked.

"Your mother doesn't hate you." Max pulled her close. "I can't tell you what's going through her mind, but if she can't see how wonderful you are, it's her loss. You have family here, your cousin, your grandma, Unk, and my dad who loves you more than me."

"She is spending Thanksgiving with Thomas at the prison," Mei blurted out.

Max stepped back perplexed and not really sure if he’d heard his wife correctly. By the expression on her face he knew that he had. He gently took her hand and led her into their room to sit on the bed. He sat next to her. Leaning forward he put his head in his hands, trying to wrap his mind around Song's reasoning.

"He's Ariaha's father, I…I can't compete with that." Mei spoke softly as if in a trance.

"Mei, just say the word and I will ban that woman from ever coming over here again."

"I'm not angry at her.  I don't know what it's like to be in her skin. I just don't think I could be with a man who’d killed a man and had tried to kill the only child I have with you. I understand she didn't know for years, but she does now and she still wants to work things out with him.  She…she wants to work things out... in prison. What kind of marriage would that be? If he really loved her he would let her go have a life. He's not getting out.

"She told me that I don't know what a real marriage is. I got it good and one day you’re going to get tired of me. And when you do, you’re going to keep me busy with shopping trips while you have your fling on the side."

Max laughed. It was ridiculous, but he was used to people making all sorts of comments about the fact that he’d married so young. He’d learned to ignore it. "I don't care what she thinks. I only care what you think. I know that people outside our home are counting down the days to our divorce. A lot of times it's because they can't understand how it could work because of their own personal reasons. Your mom has a lot. She lost hope in me so she’s holding on to whatever crap she has left and convincing herself it's love. You’re so much wiser than that, Mei. You’re learning from her mistakes."

Mei smiled at Max and leaned towards him. "The thing is that my mother brought back the fear I used to have about relationships and love. I can go through many things, but loving...deep down...sometimes I'm just crippled by fear... fear that one day you’ll walk out; that you will get tired or feel like you missed out on life because we got married so young."