Marrying the Marine-epub (7 page)

Bobbing his head, he sniffed. “I love you too, baby girl.” A tear slipped from his eye and ran down over his coarse beard. “I ain’t taking any chances of losing you or your brother, like I lost your mother. I’ll kill anybody that tried to hurt any of my children.” He handed her the case with the loaded gun.

First thing tomorrow morning she would end her budding relationship with Braylon. Of course she’d still be cordial to him. But she wasn’t going out with him anymore.

Why me?
If her father hadn’t been sitting there, she’d slap the hell out of her forehead.

“Another thing. After Drew graduates, I’m selling the house and moving to an apartment.”

“You’re what? What about me?” she asked, though she knew she could take care of herself.

“I know you’re taking college courses online, but I want you to finish your last year on an actual campus, like you’d been planning to do before your mother died. I don’t have much money, but the little I do have, and whatever I get from the house, will be yours.”

Sniffing, she pressed her hands together in a prayer symbol over her mouth. “Dad, I can’t take money from you. You may need it someday.”

Kane rolled his eyes. “You
will
take the money and go to college. It’s an order, not a question, Sandy.”

After she got her business degree, maybe she could go to culinary school and become one of the world’s greatest chefs. Perhaps her caramel pecan pies would become a hit like Braylon had said they would. Although she had no intentions of taking money from him, she wrapped her arms around her father and squeezed him tightly.

“The Wexlers had an emergency and had to leave town. After I talk with Drew and make dinner, Royce and I will be heading back to the estate.”

“Whew! Thank God y’all ain’t staying here. The last time they went out of town and he stayed here, he was up all night scraping his nails against the walls. I didn’t get any sleep.” With an elbow on the arm of the chair, he touched his forehead. “He scared me half to death.”

“Do you have to be so animated all the time?”

Kane’s brows arched. “Me. Animated? I thought that there boy was going to whoop my ass that night.”

“Ass. Ass,” Royce mocked Kane.

“Well, I’ll be damn. He can talk. He likes curse words, I see.”

She smiled. “You’re too much, Dad.” A light chuckle escaped her as she turned and headed out the door. 

“Good seeing you, Royce. And thanks for taking care of my daughter,” Kane said, after them. “And don’t worry about cooking, Sandy. Drew and I can eat a frozen dinner or something.” 

When Sandella entered Drew’s room, she found him sitting on the bed propped up with a pillow. He looked as gloomy as ever. “Hey, Drew. How’s it going?” She sat on the mattress next to him.

He sucked his teeth. “It’s not going. I’m tired of Dad being mean and judging people because of their jobs. We are surrounded by military families. He put me on punishment for going over to Troy’s house. Troy is a great dude. There’s nothing wrong with him. Or his brother. Or his father and mother.”

“Me either. Just so you know, I disagree with Dad.”

“I can’t wait to get out of this house. One more year, and I’m getting as far away from Beaufort as I possibly can. Just like Aric and Chandler went to college, I’m going, too. And like them, I’m never coming back.”

She nodded.

“I’m glad you see things my way,” Drew said.

“Dad is still grieving Mom. Don’t be too hard on him.”

“We all are still hurting over Momma. But we have to go on. We can’t stop living our lives. She wouldn’t want us to do that. Not even Dad.”

“You’re right, Drew. You’re absolutely right.”

Drew sucked his teeth. “Momma raised us to love all people, not to be prejudiced. Men and women are in Iraq protecting our country and Dad has the nerve to be judging them.”

Sandella said, “I think he’s depressed. I’m going to see about getting him some counseling.”

Drew burst out into laughter. “If you think his stubborn behind is going to get some counseling, then you’re more naïve than I thought.”

Sandella joined him in his bout of giggles. “You’re right. Dad is stuck in his ways. It’d be a cold day—”

“In hell before he goes to see a psychiatrist.” Drew threw his hands up in the air. “Staying in the house for a whole month is going to drive me up the wall.”

Apprehensive about the sudden decision to alter her father’s ruling, she nibbled on her bottom lip. “I have an idea.”

“What?”

“I’m going to convince Dad that it’ll be better for you to volunteer at the community center than to sit home and play the PlayStation when he’s not watching. That way, you can still be around your friends after school.”

Drew’s face lit up with a smile. He snatched the controller from the dresser, and clicked on the television. “And play basketball, and pool, and lift weights. Thank God you’re here to look out for me. I hope you don’t leave until after I’m gone.” His fingers shifted the control keys on the PlayStation’s control.

“Aw, don’t mention it.” 

“Dinner will be ready in about thirty minutes.”

For dinner Sandella cooked a good southern meal consisting of Cajun butterflied fried shrimp, fried catfish, and a big bowl of spicy southern potato salad. After washing the dishes, she helped Drew with his homework, then she and Royce headed back to Hilton Head Island.

Driving along the road in the thick of the night she shifted in her seat. For some reason she felt she was coming down with something. Perhaps she had a virus, or was getting the flu. Her head ached, and her body felt warmer than normal. Maybe she wasn’t sick at all. Maybe her dad’s negative attitude toward Marines had her more upset than she cared to admit. She turned the air conditioner to full blast in an effort to cool off.

Glints of the full bright moon cast a sensual glow through the windshield. Before speaking with her father this evening, she probably would’ve been able to imagine herself and Braylon sitting in the backyard at the estate under the tree, sharing another passionate kiss, and eventually making love. But now the only thing she could imagine was Braylon running away from her father with a gun pointing at his back.

I’ll have to apologize to Braylon for misleading him.

AFTER GETTING ROYCE
to bed, Sandella stood at the window in the guest bedroom on the second level of the mansion. She drew back the red velvet curtains and peered down at the cottage. A single light gleamed brightly inside the bedroom.
He’s finally home.

A few minutes later she stood at the cottage’s door going over the script she’d rehearsed inside her head. 
While I enjoyed our kiss, I’m sorry for misleading you. Because I know it’ll lead to nothing but trouble, it can’t happen again.
Of course, her practiced speech sounded downright stupid, but she had no choice but to let him know that they couldn’t engage in anything of the sort ever again.

Just as she raised her hand to knock on the door it peeled open. The foyer’s bright light shined down on Braylon and he looked like a handsome, fine warrior. Admiring the tight grey fabric spreading across his brawny chest, she felt the color drain from her face. She mentally slapped the hell out of her forehead a dozen times as air clogged her throat. 

“I was just coming to see you.” His deep voice sent chills up her spine.

Lordy Jesus. He’s hot.
“You were? Why?”

“I wanted to know if you’d like to watch a movie on demand with me. I heard
White House Down
was pretty good.”

“We need to talk.” She walked straight past him into the living room. As he closed the door a cinnamon fragrance streamed up her nose.
I wonder what it’d be like to smooth cinnamon icing over his chest and lick it off his nipples? Or better yet, his penis. A cinnamon penis? Mmmm.
Her tongue involuntarily darted out of her mouth, wetting her lips.

He towered over her. “So what do you want to talk to me about?”

Okay, what I have to say will sound stupid, but I can do this.

She cleared her throat. “After much thought I—”

“Please sit down.” He gestured toward one sofa then flopped down on the one opposite it.

Sandella took a seat across from him then crossed her legs at the knees. As she sought the words to end their romantic friendship, she took in the masculinity of his olive-skinned face. 

Gliding his arms along the curve of the sofa, he spread his legs wide open. A huge knot pressed against the fabric of his cotton black shorts, sending the inside of her mouth to salivating.
Oh, my now. Look-a-there. Look-a-there.

“Sandella.”

She snapped her eyes up to look at his face once more.
That thing looked huge!

“What were you saying?”

Her head spun with confusion. She’d never come close to wanting a man like this before. She steepled her fingers in her lap. “I’ve been thinking and…”

Nausea rose in her stomach.
My dad doesn’t want me seeing you. How childish does that sound?

Now that she was sitting here in front of him, she knew if she told him that she didn’t want to see him again, or kiss him again, or touch him again…it’d all be one big lie. Right now, more than anything, she wanted him to hold her, and tell her everything would be okay, and they’d live happily ever after. She’d really lost it now.

“You been thinking and…” Braylon came and sat beside her. “Are you okay?”

She still felt sick from earlier today. She placed a hand to her belly. “I feel queasy,” she said, being completely truthful. Bile scratched the back of her throat. She felt as if her body had gotten hotter since she’d returned back to the estate.

“You don’t look so good.”

“I feel like I have to—” She slapped a hand over her mouth, and took off for the bathroom. Halfway there, she vomited on the carpet. Knowing another round of foul bile was about to escape her, she staggered inside the bathroom and purged inside the toilet.

After flushing, she looked back over her shoulder at Braylon. A concerned look softened his features. “What can I do to help you?”

“I need to lie down,” she said, standing and feeling faint. Her head spun as a slow wave of heat spread through her bones.

“Let me help you to the bed.” He yanked her off her feet and carried her to the bedroom. He turned back the cover and lowered her to the mattress.

He put the back of his hand to her forehead. “You feel extremely hot,” he said, smoothing her bangs in with the rest of her hair on top of her head. “Where’s the thermometer?”

Why was she so exhausted? she wondered, taking in the worried expression shadowing his face. “There’s one in the kitchen cabinet next to the refrigerator inside the main house.”

“I’ll be right back.” Braylon dashed out the front door to the main house, and quickly returned. “Let me take your temperature.”

Sweat beaded on her forehead. When she tried to sit up, her attempt failed. “I felt bad earlier when I was visiting my dad, but now I feel awful.”

Braylon swept the hair covering the side of her face behind her ear and took her temperature. He dropped his face closer to hers. With his fingers to her chin, he turned her face away from his toward the pleated sheers. “One hundred and three degrees. And your neck is covered with red spots.”

“It is?”  

He grabbed the mirror off the dresser and handed it to her. “Take a look.”

Sandella peeked into the mirror. A bumpy red rash covered the sides and back of her neck. To her knowledge she wasn’t allergic to anything.
I must’ve eaten something bad.
“I have no clue what this is.” Mustering what little strength she had, she shifted sideways and put her feet to the floor.

“You’re in no shape to get out of bed.”

“I need to take a look at the rest of my body.”

Braylon’s eyes glittered with amusement. “I can take a look for you if you like.”

Even in her ill state she managed a curt smile. “No, thank you. I’ll do it myself.”

Holding her hand, he guided her to the bathroom. She placed a hand on the door frame. “No visitors allowed,” she said, shutting the door in his face.

Standing in front of the mirror, Sandella gathered her shirt at the hem and removed it. She turned to look at her back. She gasped. Blisters were gathered on her back like a bad case of red leaking acne.  “Oh my God!”

The door flung open. “What!” He gawked at her practically nude chest. 

Her hands shot up to her breasts in an attempt to cover them and the black satin bra she was wearing. She felt blood gather in her cheeks. “Braylon! You can’t come in here!”

“I’m sorry. But you scared me half to death when you screamed.” Starting with her hair, his eyes rolled up and down her body. “God, you’re so beautiful,” he said, entering the bathroom. His eyes left her face and traveled to the mirror. “What in the world is that on your back?”

She shrugged. “I don’t know if it’s my imagination or what, but it’s starting to itch really, really, bad.”

“I’m taking you to the doctor.” He grabbed her shirt off the counter and redressed her.

“I can drive myself to the hospital. Why don’t you stay here with Royce? I just hate waking him.”

“That’s nonsense. I’m taking you, period…end of subject.” He tugged her hand, guided her outside to the yellow convertible he’d grown accustomed too over the past few weeks.

Sandella watched Braylon enter the house through the back door of the garage. The affectionate way he was taking care of her stirred a tender emotion.
Not all Marines are bad, Dad. Especially not my Braylon.

A
fter leaving the hospital, Braylon drove to the other side of the island to drop Royce off at his Aunt Gladys’s home.  Clutching the hospital blanket up to her chin, Sandella sat in the passenger’s seat staring out the window, then transferred her gaze toward him. “I feel bad about Gladys having to care for Royce until I get better.”

“Don’t,” he said, reaching over brushing the top of her head. “Willa doesn’t want you taking care of him while you’re recovering from a food intolerance.  She wants you to get some rest and take care of yourself so you can get better. My grandma loves you like a daughter, you know?”