Family Reunion (43 page)

"Manny…pleeease…enough…let him go!" Lena whimpered, her eyes running with tears as she stood beside him. She couldn't move him, but she pulled at his arm anyway.

Manny seeing him that way, with his mouth bleeding and swollen, swallowed a great deal of his fury but his patience, even with his own child, was short when it came to Lena, he glanced down at her, she was upset, pleading up at him, that alone angered him more.

Hope, Maria and many others stood outside banging on the door and yelling, wanting to know what was going on.

"Manny, he heard you, loud and clear. Please let him go now." Lena pleaded once more. Slowly, Manny backed up; his one hand still had a strong grasp of his son’s shirt. Mike's chest throbbed with pain now that the numbing pressure had been released, he felt like his breast bone had been on the verge of giving in. He ignored the pounding ache, as his father whispered hoarsely.

"Do you know what you’ve done? Why could you not, just - trust me? Yes damn it! I want her, okay! I want her! And yes…maybe something might have happened between us tonight – but you've taken good care of that haven't you." Manny thrust his shirt from his grip, letting him go.

Lena turned away and walked to the other side of the room now that the physical actions had come to a stop, she was shaking. To see father and son that way, over her shattered her nerves.

"I had every intention on marrying your mother. Now, I doubt if she’ll even have me thanks to you! Damn it I love her – and – you know it! Have you forgotten that!?" Manny felt his anger rising again at the thought of what had occurred may have done to Lena, and how she might react towards him. "Get the hell out of here,
now
– or by God the next attack will see you overboard!"

Mike swallowed and stood away from the door. He looked toward his mother who stood staring out the window. "I'm sorry mama for upsetting you, but-..."

"I'm okay son, go – go on to bed now." Lena said softly, not looking at either of them.

"You want to go now, before they break in the door!?" Manny asked brusquely with the sound of the continuous pounding. Mike looked at his father wondering had he possibly done permanent damage to their relationship. "I didn't do this to hurt you dad, I just-…"

"Go Michael,
go
."

Mike turned and left the room. As the door closed Manny could hear Hope's voice. "What happened? What did you do? Oooh if you've ruined things, I'm gonna lam' you another fat lip!"

Manny stood with his palms flat on the wall either side of the door frame, his back to Lena. As he leaned against the wall, he had to close his eyes a moment to shake and clear his head, he blasted in frustration, "Bloody hell!" Pushing himself abruptly from the wall, he turned to face Lena.

He walked to the other side of the room to where she stood staring out of the window. The sky was filled with stars and the moon shone bright and clear. Lena leaned with one knee onto the window seat, where cushions were thrown along the back decoratively. She had to laugh at herself, "What a sad individual I have turned out to be. It really is a shame when a son has to be forced to defend his mother's honor. He shouldn't have had to do that. I should have been woman enough to do it myself. But then ... it's a little late for me to expect any respect from you. Why should you have to give it now, when I never insisted upon it before?"

"Not a word of that is true…and you know it." Manny stated forcefully behind her.

"Oh yes it is. Why bother putting a worth on something that came to you freely? Even if you had to pay for me, you didn't…your father procured me - for you…by winning a poker game…see…free and easy."

Lena's voice was bland with cynicism.

Manny felt his heart skip a beat,
'Damn it I knew it!'
He ran his hand over his face, gearing up for a long night, "Lena don't do this…not tonight."

"Why not tonight?"

"Ah come on! You know as well as I, that our relationship is not a simple one. My loving you was never done out of disrespect, or just plain - lust-…"

"Liar! You're going to stand there and tell me you loved me from the very beginning?!"

Manny groaned.

"Groan all you like…you had one thing on your mind – getting me into your bed!"

"Okay! It was lust! Pure – carnal – sinful – blood boiling lust! Okay?! But I won't apologize to you for taking you, only for the way that I did. However, I do happen to remember, that you liked it! Ah yes, wanted it… wanted
me,
to pleasure
you
…remember?!"

"That sir – is beside the point! I – was a young innocent! A slave! You, were a full grown man, you took advantage of that, and had me at your will… and had me at your will… and had me - at your wi-…"

"Alright, alright, alright – so I did." He admitted.

She stood facing him with her arms crossed over her chest, one brow arched, geared up to make her stand.

"But you must also admit that I've always loved you, treated you tenderly and treasured what we had. I would have sooner given up all I had rather than loose you."

"But you didn't ... did you?" She countered.

"Lena-a-a! Lena!" He shouted, grinding his teeth, shooting his fist into the air with a spin and doing a dance of frustration ending with kicking the table next to him, breaking its leg. The entire time Lena stood with her arms crossed, not the least bit impressed.

"What a silly thing to do." She muttered.

"Look here lady!"

"No! You look here!" She retorted.

"It's my turn, I get to talk!" He raged, glaring with furrowed brow. "The simple fact is, no damn it, I didn't! Alright, so I tried to have it all! Is that what you want to hear? Hm?"

Lena stood with a bored look on her face.

Manny whimpered covering his face. "Lena please… darlin' I'm begging, don't do this to me. Don't do this us." He walked over to her, gently grasping her upper arms. "I love you, and I want you to be my wife."

Lena looked down at his hands, and then up at him. "Please
sir, unhand me, thank you." Her tone was cold with rancor, Manny let her go instantly.

"What is wrong with you? Will you please stop this now? Even back on Webster Fields, I felt you were my wife, I told you as much, have you forgotten our time together back then?"

"Not at all, if memory serves me well, all was said after it was impossible to be. Now, once more, you make this claim desiring me to be your wife, is that correct? That is your wish, hmmm?"

"Lena? Yes, I wish you wouldn't say it like that."

"Like what?" She returned, knowingly.

Manny gritted his teeth, "You know like what! In that way that says I only proposed now because I have to."

"You, Maynard Ramsey Webster, don't have to do anything of the sort, it's that son of yours that forced you to this – admit it?!" She demanded.

"I will admit no such thing! I had every intention on asking you to marry me! Now let's not draw this out and make a big to do over it ... will you marry me?"

Lena shook her head and laughed out as she stepped around him.

"First, no! Because it sounds exactly what it is, a guilty conscience trying to rectify itself by means of proposal! You needn't have bothered! For you and I both know it's a proposal you can't possibly keep… and don't stand there looking at me like that! If I had not returned, you would have been very content to continue on with your life as it was! It may have upset you a little in the beginning, disturbing your regular routine! But you managed to pick yourself up and accept your losses and continue on quite easily I am sure! As for me, I am quite tired of being your easy, so the an-…"

"Ceś alena! What in the hell - are talking about?! I asked you to marry me for one reason and one reason only, because I want you as my wife! You have always been the only woman I've wanted! There's not a woman alive today who could hold a candle to you! You're the only woman who I plan to make Mrs. Maynard Webster! And that's the honest to God truth!"

"You – you - how could you use God in such blasphemy! How could you stand there and call out to God what you know is a
lie!
An out right bold face lie! I suppose Miss Gloria West is the name of your next vessel. I suppose the engagement party, with a date for April, next month, is the customary celebration for launching a new ship?!"

Manny stood staring at her, and then asked. "How did you know about Gloria?"

"Does it matter!? The fact is I know! Have you forgotten, I can
read – remember, I'm one of the educated ones. Had you ever planned on telling me about her Manny? Or was it your plan to keep her at one end of town and me at the other?" Manny's eyes narrowed as he started to say something, but Lena continued on. "After all, many men have done it! Many are doing it! Including you! A wife who is accepted by all for show, and a mistress to add spice and excitement to your life! Better yet, knowing you - you'll keep me downstairs in the kitchen and her upstairs! After all, it worked for you a little while with Katherine and I accepted it once, maybe with a little better planning-…"

"All right!! You hold it right there
Princess
Ceś
-alena! That’s quite enough!!" He blasted from her last comment that he felt was striking below the belt.

"Oh no it’s not, I’ve only just begun!! Don’t you yell at me Maynard Webster, because I don’t have to stand here and take this from you any more!"

"Anymore? Oh ho ho, excuse me, as if you ever did before!!" He threw his arms high with the dip of his body, gesturing grandly into the fight.

"You know what, I was wrong. I am finished with this, and further more, I'm getting ...
the hell
... from this ship. You see, unlike in my past, I happen to have a place to go to, and this time, I know my way!" With that said, she headed for the door.

"Ceś alena!! Get back here!!"

She ignored him and snatched the door open. Mike and Hope spilled in onto the floor. Ignoring their presence, she stepped over them and out the door, down the corridor. Manny charged after her, stopping only for the moment to glare down at his son whom he asked, "Satisfied now?! Hm?” Not bothering to answer, he too stepped over them rushing down the corridor shouting, "Ceś alena, this is not finished! You get back here right no-o-ow!!"

Hope struggled up from the floor. "Do you see what you've done? I hope you’re happy now!? Well?! Are you?!" Unable to resist, she popped her brother on top of his head and ran down the hall following her father.

"Damn it Lena!! I am losing my patience with you!!" Manny caught up with her, grabbing her by the arm as she was about to mount the steps.

"Maynard - let go - of my arm!"

"Make me let go!” He snarled, like a boy bully, “You get back to that room right this minute!" He ordered.

"I will not! I am leaving this ship - now let - me go!"

With a growl, he reached around her waist and hauled her up over
the side of his hip like a sack of grain. "Manny!
Put - me - down
!!" Lena shrieked, embarrassed. Everyone was standing at the end of the hall gaping at them, a little scared.

Instead of heading back to the state room, he decided to go some place closer, his study office, and yelled over Lena's shouting, to the audience.

"Go – to bed!!" Everyone scattered. He stepped inside and slammed the door, setting Lena down before him, demanding.

"Just where did you think you were going?”

“
Home! Anywhere, away from you!” She huffed, straightening out her clothes.

“
Home,
is
with me! Seems we’re right back to our initial beginning aren’t we? No matter, I dealt with you then, I can well handle you now!”

It was Lena’s turn to growl, her body tensed because just like back then, she wanted to haul off and pop him one. He read her well. “Ah ah, you do and I’ll be the one to finish it, now - where did you hear of Gloria West?"

Lena stood breathing hard, glaring, her arms crossed over her breasts and because he waited, she finally answered, "The invitation; why didn't you tell me about her?!" She bit out, moving her hands to her hips, feet spread, her stance as if ready for a fight.

"Because there was nothing, to tell, she wasn't worth mentioning!"

"Oh really, yet she was worth proposing to and eventually marrying! Yet - not worth mentioning! How convenient!" She stated, leaning to the side, cocking her hip.

Manny stood contemplating his next move, looking down at her, a wisp of a woman who still had the nerve to stand against him and argue toe to toe. Manny decided he’d had just about enough of her nonsense.

"You listen here Ceś alena Huebana!" He started, shaking his finger in her face. Lena's eyes narrowed and she bared her teeth. Manny snatched his finger back. "'You would wouldn't you?!" He asked accusingly, knowing that if he dangled it before her, she would bite him, because she had bitten him many times in the past.

"Stick it back there and see!"