Dreams Do Come True (25 page)

The week went by quickly. Shontell was getting dressed. Today was going to be one of the hardest events she would ever have to attend.  “Are you ready?” Nico asked her, interrupting her thoughts. “As ready as I can be,” she told him. She took his hand, as they headed to the waiting funeral home car. When they arrived at the church, Shontell sat there and let the tears fall. She blew out a hard breath and wiped her face with the hanky that Nico had just handed her. He took her by the hand; getting out, they were joined by the rest of the group: Sandy, Eric, and Martin. They all entered the church, and she was greeted by Ebony’s mother.  She had only seen her a few times, and she still greeted her warmly even under the circumstances. “Shontell, I am glad you agreed to sing today. Even with all that happened, my daughter looked up to you. I hope that you have forgiven her indiscretions.”

“Ms. Walker, I forgave her. Don’t you worry about that now.  And we will talk later,” she told her. Elana sat in the first pew, and looked at her daughter’s body in the casket. She knew that man wasn’t going to bring her happiness, but she didn’t think this would have happened. She did wish their relationship could have been better. Elana did the best she could with what she had for her kids, but her daughter never saw it that way and didn’t appreciate the things she sacrificed so they could have a roof over their head and clothes on their back. She was glad those young men offered to pay for the service. It was a life saver for her and her sons, because she never thought to have life insurance on them or herself.

Shontell sat between her parents and Nico. She tried not to look over in the casket. She bounced her knee in nervousness, trying to get herself together. When it was time for her to sing, Nico squeezed her hand. She took to the podium, and the music began.

“
Here we are again, that old familiar place where the winds will blow, no one ever knows the time nor place, don’t cry for me. Don’t shed a tear.  The time I shared with you will always be and when I am gone, please carry on. Don’t cry for me…
” Shontell belted it out. There was not a dry eye in the church, including hers. She didn’t even remember the rest of the service. After the service, they all went out for dinner. The table was mostly quiet throughout. They needed a distraction so she spoke. “So guys, tell me about your overseas tour.” It wasn’t directed at any one person, but David began to tell her the cities they would be visiting. The room’s atmosphere changed, and it was just what she needed. The laughter and the talking helped keep her mind off seeing Ebony in that casket. She noticed Nico watching her throughout the night. She tried not to think about the fact that he would be leaving her tomorrow evening.

When they got back to her house, she brought him to her laying her head on his chest, “I just wanted to say thank you.”

“Thank you?”

“Yes, thank you. I wouldn’t have gotten through the last few weeks without you. You were with me through all this—the hounding press and today, the funeral. A lot of men would have bailed a long time ago.”

“Shontell, I love you. Being with you is the only place I want to be,” he told her, as he kissed her tears from her face.

“I love you, too,” she told him. They spent the rest of the night talking. In the morning, her parents came over for breakfast. Shontell’s dad asked to speak to Nico alone.

Nico and Mr. Banner went out onto Shontell’s back patio. The men took a seat, and her father began talking to him. 

“You know me and my wife were so afraid things were going to go bad with Shontell and Jesse. I could never pinpoint what it was about him that made me so uneasy. It is sad to see I was proven right. We can’t thank you enough for being there for Shon. She is our only child and the highlight of our lives. We could have lost her to that maniac. We are just glad that it’s over.”

“Yes, sir. I agree. If I would have lost her, I can’t imagine what state I would be in. I love Shontell.”

“You love her. That’s a deep statement and responsibility. I am sure you already know that.  I don’t think she can handle being hurt any more, if you get the meaning of my words, son.”  Nico understood what he was saying clearly. Before he could respond, Shontell and her mother joined them with the breakfast. “So, Nico, Shontell told us that you are headed overseas for a few weeks,” Mrs. Banner said to him.

“Yes, ma’am, we are. It is a nine-city tour, but we will be mostly in Japan. It’s one of our biggest tours. I was hoping that maybe your daughter would join me for part of it.”

“Excuse me! When were you going to discuss this with me?” a shocked Shontell asked, looking at Nico and then her parents. 

“Before I left this evening. We can talk about it more later. It is just a thought. I just thought you could use a change of scenery with all that has happened.”

“Well, sweetie, he does have a point. You’ve never been to Japan before, and it could be good for you,” Mrs. Banner said in defense of Nico’s comment. The look on Shontell’s face said she wasn’t pleased with his comment. They ate in silence for a little while. Nico realized he may have really put his foot in his mouth this time. Nico’s phone vibrated in his pocket. He ignored it because, at this moment, what was going on at the table was more important—or so he thought. 

Shontell managed to get through dinner. She tried not to be so mad at Nico. But it was hard for her to act like she wasn’t. She walked her parents to the door and kissed them both. Why did everyone feel the need to have to protect her? 

“Are you upset with me?” 

“Why do you feel the need to protect me? What else can happen that hasn’t happened already?” Shontell was voicing the thoughts she had been thinking. Before he could answer her, his cell phone went off again. He looked at it, frowning. Looking up at her, he told her, “I have to take this.”

“Go ahead. I need a little air anyway.”  Nico stepped into the kitchen foyer, and she headed to the patio. Turning and watching him as his body language changed as he listened to the caller. He spoke softly, so she wasn’t able to hear what he was saying. But she knew it was about her, because he looked at her a couple of times. Throwing her arms up in frustration, she walked to the banister and looked out over her yard.

Shontell had been outside for a few minutes when she heard a sound behind her. She turned around and called out to Nico. When he didn’t respond, she walked back into the room and saw him lying on the floor. She went over to him, but was caught off guard by the voice behind her. “Miss me, sweetness?” Jesse said from the side of where Shontell was kneeling.

“Oh my god, what are you doing? How did you get out of jail?” she asked Jesse, her face full of alarm.

“It’s called escaping. Guess you haven’t watched the news today. I fled during the transport.”

“But why, why are you here? Haven’t you hurt me enough? Why can’t you just leave me alone?” she asked him, as her tears spilled down her face.

“I told you on the ship that I love you. If I can’t be with you, then you damn sure are not going to be with him,” Jesse told her, as he was motioning towards a still-unconscious Nico. Shontell tried to jar Nico lightly to get him to wake up. She jumped when Jesse yelled at her.

“GET AWAY FROM HIM!” he told her, as he pulled out a gun and pointed it at Nico. Shontell’s whole body began to shake, and she began to cry even harder. She needed to figure out how to make Jesse focus on her. She stood up and headed towards the couch.  “Jesse, please don’t do this. I will do whatever it is that you want. Just leave him alone,” she told him. She saw Nico stirring out the corner of her eye. She racked her brain for something to do. All she could think about was just to divert him with talking.  

“Come on, let’s…let’s go talk,” she stammered, motioning towards the patio. Jesse looked at her and then back at Nico. He needed to make sure he wasn’t moving. He looked back at Shontell as she headed towards the patio.  She stood at the railing waiting for him, and he didn’t see her push the panic button that she had installed out there.  All she had to do was stall him until they got there. 

Nico was still looking at Shontell; he could only see her back. Martin had just informed him that Jesse escaped. They had not watched the news. Because of all the media attention, he wanted to shield Shontell from it as much as he could. So they didn’t even touch the television.  Ending his call, he decided they needed to go to the hotel and not stay there tonight as originally planned. He tucked his phone in his pocket and was about to head out to the balcony when he felt a sharp pain in the back of his head.

Nico didn’t know how long he had been knocked out, but he could feel the throbbing. He opened his eyes and saw Jesse and Shontell. He quickly closed his eyes when saw Jesse pointing a gun in his direction. He knew they were talking, but he couldn’t understand their words. As they pain subsided some, he was soon able to make out their conversation. He heard Shontell reasoning with him and caught on quickly to do what she was trying to do.  He saw Jesse follow her to the patio, and he slowly made his way over to the door.  He made a mistake and hit the chair. Jesse heard him.  He came running back into the room.  “Going somewhere, man?” he asked him with a sneer on his face. “Why don’t you just leave before the police get here?” Nico said to him. He didn’t even know if the police were actually coming. Jesse grabbed Shontell by the elbow. “Hell, it doesn’t matter if they come or not. I don’t have anything else to lose. I damn sure ain’t going to prison. So, if I kill you both and myself that will be the end of it. I can’t leave here without having another sweet piece of Shontell,” he said, as he ran his tongue down the side of her face. Shontell flinched and cried out, as he tightened his grip on her and held the gun to her side. Nico wanted to lunge at him, but didn’t want to take the chance of Shontell getting hurt.

“Man, I am going to ask you to let my woman go,” Jesse said, waving the gun back and forth with a glazed over look in his eyes.

“Your woman?” Nico eyes widened with his statement. He didn’t realize Jesse was this unstable.

“She was mine before you even came into the picture,” he stated, scratching his head like he was suddenly confused. But he still didn’t take his eyes off Nico.

“Was she?” Nico said, baiting him to divert his attention.

“YES!” Jesse yelled, stepping towards him.  “And to prove it, I’m going to let you watch as I make love to my woman.”

“Nico?” Shontell whispered. She was looking frightened, as Jesse turned his attention to her.

“Get undressed,” he told her. Nico gave Shontell a look that said he was going to make a move. Shontell cried as she did as he asked. She had no choice, as he had the gun pointed at her forehead.  Jesse watched her unbutton her shirt and Nico made his move, grabbing him from behind. They wrestled, and he was able to knock the gun out of his hand. He punched Jesse in the jaw, and he stumbled. Just as he was getting up, the front door was busted open and then four police officers came charging into the house with their guns pointed on Jesse. They all stopped frozen.

“Hands up Jesse, NOW!!”  The police yelled at him. Nico went over to Shontell and pulled her into his embrace. They both were shaking, and her body heaved. One of the officers came over to them, asking if they were okay. They both nodded, as Shontell turned to fix her clothing. 

“I never meant to hurt her. I love her,” Jesse said as he looked at the police officers. Nico and Shontell were ushered back from where Jesse was, as they watched the officers subdue him.

Jesse

Jesse got down on the floor as instructed, all the while keeping his eyes on Shontell. He looked from Shontell and then to Nico, who was holding her. He could see their love. Jesse bowed his head, as the officers pulled him up from the floor. Shontell had never looked at him the way she was looking at Nico. It was right then that he knew he deserved whatever he got for hurting Ebony. She had loved him, despite how he treated her.  Jesse didn’t deserve the love of either Ebony or Shontell. As he was being led out the room, he stopped in his tracks. Jesse tried to look back, and gave the officer a pleading look. They turned him back around toward the couple. “Shontell and Nico, I am sorry for all this.” He then looked at Nico. “Love her right, because I know I sure didn’t know how. You two look good together.” Jesse was then led out the door into the awaiting cruise car. The officer covered his head, as the news media started running in their direction firing questions at him. As they were pulling off, he saw both Shontell and Nico on the porch watching. The media was being contained by the police. He immediately thought how he knew that Shontell was hating all this media attention. He faced forward and remained silent the rest of the ride.                                                        

Epilogue

Shontell was standing backstage waiting for her cue. Martin walked over to her and gave her a warm hug. “I told you that you two were meant for each other,” he said, winking. Soon after, the rest of the guys walked over to where she was standing. Each one touched her slightly protruding stomach. She turned as she heard Nico speak. “We have added a special performance to our show tonight. We have a hometown girl with us, and what better way to introduce her to you than in her beautiful hometown of Detroit. We did a duet which is on our current CD, and we will be sharing it with you tonight.”  The crowd went wild, the music began to play, and Nico began to sing.

“
I used to search for a love that was never there, waking up from a nightmare in a cold sweat, then I met you, and all my dreams came true
…” Hearing her cue, she began to sing as she walked out on the stage:
“I never believed in fairy tales, thought they were for those other girls, but one night I dreamed of a man, and it was you, you became my dream come true…”
Holding hands, they sang to each other as if there was no one else there. After they finished, the crowd stood on their feet. Nico kissed her, and then kissed her stomach.

“This is the love of my life, the mother of my child, Ms. Shontell Banner. Hopefully, soon she will be my bride.” Nico got down on one knee and pulled a ring box from his pocket. Shontell looked surprised, as her eyes filled with tears. She looked at him. No one could have ever told her that they would be here. The day that Jesse almost killed them was harder than she thought she could recover from. She was so afraid he was going to break out of jail and come after her again. She sold her house and moved near Sandy. Under her parent’s and Nico’s advisement, she started therapy and fought hard to get back to where she is now. Nico supported her through it all. Her family and friends were the strength she needed.  Their pregnancy was a surprise, but they took it in stride like they did everything else this past year. How could she not marry him? He never left her side. Not just once but twice, he always stood by her through all her drama.  She looked over at him and smiled, nodding yes. He placed the 1.2 carat diamond on her finger. He stood up, and they shared a kiss. The Fox Theater erupted. The rest of the group came back on stage, and she bowed. She was excited, but focused enough to wave to Sandy. She was with her fiancé, Eric. Her parents were also there, and they were all sitting in the front row. Like their song said, sometimes d
reams do come true.