URBAN: Chosen By A Kingpin (82 page)

Kati reached for her, pulled Tara into her arms.

“I’m so sorry miss. Is there anything I can do? What about Mister Blake, will he be joining you?”

Her embrace was sweet and endearing and Tara nearly broke down, not just because of her father but also because of everything she had went through today. Oh how she wanted to share it all, but she couldn’t.

“No, I haven’t been able to reach him. I will call him tomorrow and let him know.” She paused and looked at Kati. “Don’t think I don’t appreciate you Kati. You are the only thing that is real around here. I’m…I’m so tired of waiting and wanting and needing him.”

Tara couldn’t stop the tears from falling. As soon as he would wipe them they formed again and fell like tiny rivers.

“Miss Tara?”

“I’m sorry Kati. I’m just feeling some kind of way. I need to see my father. I need to be there for my mother and when I return I have to deal with what’s happening between me and Blake because I realize I just can’t live like this anymore.”

Kati hugged Tara tightly. “Miss Tara. Dry your tears baby. Go see your father and your mother and don’t worry about a thing over here. I will let Mr. Blake know where you are and if he decides to join you that would be up to him. Anything you need from me, I will do, just ask, alright?”

Tara nodded.

After a long shower and in her pj’s Tara began to analyze her feelings for Michael and lack thereof for Blake. Sure it could be just lust and the neediness to be touched, but he touched her not just physically. He touched her mind, lifted her spirit, and with just a few words he sent her emotions spiraling out of control. The mere thought of him at that moment had her trembling with tiny eruptions, once again anticipating his touch. She turned over in her bed.

“Ahh, this has got to stop.” She said out loud. Only while thinking she didn’t really want it to stop, that was clear. Today wasn’t a mistake, today was meant for her to see what true desire feels like, to remind her what lovemaking felt like. She moved her hand down into her pants and squeezed, she was moist and warm, something he repeated to her over and over again. Tara inserted her fingers, moving them slowly, methodically in and out, creating a vacuum of passion and desire and when she was about to cum she whispered his name.

Michael!

***

When morning came Tara had a driver take her to the airport. Once the driver left, Tara took a cab to downtown Potomac. She asked the cab to wait while she proceeded to cross the street and head inside the building. Tara hesitated at first but rang the doorbell.

There was no answer. She waited and rang the bell again, but still no answer. She left carrying her pride in her hand. Tara told the cab driver to take her back to the airport, but just before they pulled off Tara saw Michael in the window, looking out at her then closing the blinds. She didn’t know what that was about but she would have to deal with it later, much later.

***

Eleanor had gotten much more than she wished for. Blake’s wife was indeed having an affair with his friend. She pondered how to break it to him. She knew he wouldn’t be excited about it, knew he wouldn’t approve of her dipping into his business, but it was business, family business and she wouldn’t let that little hoe control things or ruin their lives with her indiscretions

“Sammy, follow her, wherever she goes and get a backup on Michael. I think he is going to unveil himself and his motives very soon. Wait, no don’t follow him, contact him, and set up a meeting for us. I think I need to speak with this Michael. Perhaps we can come to some agreement.”

***

Tara called her sister when she arrived at Midway Airport. When she got no answer she left a voicemail.

“Mya, I’m here. If you don’t have someone to get me, I’ll get a cab to the house.”

Immediately after hanging up the call, Mya returned her call.

“Sis, hey, my boyfriend Chris and I are picking you up, we’re on the way. I’ll call you when we arrive.”

Tara was glad to see her sister and even more glad that she took the initiative to pick her up, but clearly her mind was on other things as well, like Michael, Blake and how she had probably ruined her life when her mind should have been on her dad and mom. She placed a call to her mom and got no answer and then to Michael who also didn’t answer. Tara tried Blake again and surprisingly he did answer.

“Baby, how are you? I’ve been trying to reach you all day!” He said.

“Blake, I have been calling you for the last two days with no answer. What the fuck is going on? I am your wife how the hell do you expect me to react when you don’t answer my calls?”

“Tara, Tara! I’ve been in business meetings night and day and when I tried to call you back I got no answer. What is going on with you? Why are you cursing at me?”

Tara shook her head. This was such bullshit!

“Everything Blake. You are supposed to be my husband and I can’t even count on you to answer my calls. Fuck You!”

“Tara, it’s not like that. Please, tell me what is going on?”

Tara breathed real hard and tried to calm herself down. She didn’t believe the bullshit Blake was talking about, but he did deserve an explanation.

“I’m in Indiana Blake. My father is dying. That’s what I’ve been trying to tell you for two days, but I haven’t been able to reach you.” She cried. “I am dying over here and you, my husband is not here for me. In fact you have never been here for me.”

Silence.

“Hello?” Tara questioned.

“I’m sorry baby. I’m sorry about your dad. I’m sorry I haven’t been there for you. It’s not right, I know but I promise to do better. Do you want me to fly in? I can. I’ll drop everything to be there for you.”

“No, no Blake. Finish your business.” She paused. “Thank you .”

“For what baby?”

“For caring.”

“Tara, despite what you think or what my mom thinks, I love you darling, with all of my heart and if you need me to be there, I will.”

She appreciated his sincerity up to the point of mentioning his mom.

“Thank you, but what does your mom think have to do with now?”

“Oh shit. I should have said nothing.”

“What Blake?”

“It’s nothing baby, just Mom being mom.

“Well, what does that mean? Tell me!”

He breathed hard on the phone.

“Blake?”

“Alright, but hear me out, I don’t’ believe a word she says.”

“Blake, what is it?”

“Alright! She has it in her mind that you are having an affair with Michael. She had you followed Tara.”

Tara grabbed her chest.
What the hell was going on?

“Tara!”

She turned and found Mya.

“I’ve got to go Blake. I’ll call you when I get home.”

Michael fumed. How come she wasn’t answering her phone? He slammed his fist against the wall. He wanted to be open with her, let her know everything but he couldn’t, now he suspected he was losing her trust.

Tara

He paced the floor. He had to find Tara. He had to make things straight before he loses her. He kept thinking how he didn’t want to lose her, how he couldn’t. Then he thought about Eleanor. Eleanor had been snooping around in his business. What had she told Tara?

Eleanor!

She had somehow gotten to Tara. Eleanor turned her against him. He threw a glass against the wall, splashing water everywhere. He stood still in that moment, like the crash and splash soothed him, quieted him down and he knew what to do. He would pay Eleanor a visit.

***

Eleanor had turned in for the night, but she was quite pleased with the work of the day. Not only did she secure a facility for her annual fashion show, but her detectives had come up with quite the loot on Mr. Michael Harris, aka Michael Deveneau. She couldn’t wait to share it with Blake and even his misguided wife Tara. She would surely be surprised to know that Michael Harris was a broke scam artist who had scammed many other women out of their money. He said his wife had died. He lied. His 90 year old wife was in a nursing home in Florida. No matter what, Eleanor thought Michael Harris will surely pay for his sins and his sins against others. She would make sure of that.

Eleanor awoke in the middle of the night. Her window was open which surprised her, it was too cold for her to have the window open. She moved too close to it when a small movement drew her to her sitting chair.

“Who is it? Who is here? Blake?”

She closed the window and reached for her lamp, but before she could cut the light on she was grabbed from behind and forced faced down onto her bed. She struggled but she couldn’t move, nor could she breathe. Eleanor whispered Blake’s name with her last breath, but that too went unheard.

***

“Mya!”

Mya hugged her. “What’s the matter sis, you look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

“No, no. I’m fine, just tired and a bit overwhelmed. How is mom?”

Mya had transformed herself into a Bohemian Goddess, dressed in a long African print dress, head wrap and enough bangles to set off security. Tara always loved her individuality, style and courage to be different. Unlike herself, she still looked the same since high school.

The two talked as they made their way through the airport and to the car. Tara couldn’t get out of her mind what Blake had told her. What had Eleanor seen? What did she know? This was much worse than she could imagine.

“Sis?” Mya asked. “You sure you’re okay?”

“Yes, like I said, I’m fine.”

When they reached the car, Mya introduced Tara to her fiancé, a young man by the name of Jamal. He was strikingly beautiful in a Caribbean sort of way. His long dreads framed his face like a king, and he had a smile that could melt any heart.

“Hello Tara, pleased to meet you.”

“Pleased to meet you Jamal.”

“Likewise. It’s not often that I get to meet royalty.”

Tara laughed, but she couldn’t for the life of her think how she was able to despite her situation. When she offered her hand, he gave her a hug. He was an absolute cutie.

Mya interrupted. “You don’t have many bags. I guess you won’t be staying too long.”

“No, that’s not it Sis, I don’t need much and whatever else I need I can buy it.”

***

It had been awhile since Tara had been home, and even after the many years she could see not much had changed. Her city looked like it was on its deathbed. The abandoned buildings, overrun lots filled with junk and missing people left her feeling some kind of way.

“I hate coming back here.” Mya said.

“I feel you. Not like the city I remember.”

“I wish mom and dad would have moved in with me, or maybe with you. Any place is better than here.

Tara took in what she was saying. She would have loved to have her parents with her. Taking care of them, giving them the best of care, but that would be a problem for Blake an even bigger problem for Eleanor. Just the thought of it pissed her off. One more thing she needed to discuss with Blake.

“Yeah, me too!”

Her phone buzzed.
Michael again.
She ignored it.

“Home sweet home,” Mya shouted.

Their three bedroom brick framed house had seen better times. Although the brick still held up, the paint around the windows was chipping and the porch looked like it was about to crumble. Tara felt shame, knowing that she had so much and allowed her parents to live like this. As soon as dad was fine she would make sure that the house was fixed.

***

Tara’s time with her family was just what she needed. Her and Mya cooked dinner while her mother fussed over her dad. Jamal was the resident photographer and videographer filming them at every move.

“I told you I don’t like cameras” Her mother hollered. “Would you stop?”

Her Dad chuckled.

It was rare for him laugh and the sound of it made Tara happy.

“Dad, more tea?”

“No, not unless you are going to put something in it”

She leaned over him. “What you got?”

“Got some Jameson in the cupboard, look for the jelly jar on the 4th row.”

For as long as she knew her dad always kept him a drink on hand despite what mom thought.

While everyone was talking, Tara poured him a shot or two in his tea.

“Here you go dad. Go for it!”

“Yes! Now this is what I’m talking about. Thank you baby girl.” He stopped to take swallow. “Oh my that is good. So tell me Tara, is everything working out like you wanted? Are you happy?”

Tara knew nothing but the truth pleased her dad, but on this occasion she couldn’t ruin the moment with it, so she lied.

“Everything is great dad! I have a beautiful home, great profession…life is good”

He gave her a strange look. “Uh oh. I heard everything, everything except love. Where is the love Tara?”

Where is the love?

“Dad, it’s there. It’s just not like you and mom, but it’s there.”

“Does it make you happy? Because if it doesn’t what are you doing there? Life is too short baby girl for you to be wasting it on being with the royals, pretending some dreamlike life instead of actually living one.”

Tara nearly teared up. He got her. Her dad was perhaps the only one besides Kati who saw right through her façade, but still she couldn’t let him in on her life.

“Dad, no worries, I am living the best life I can live. You would be proud of me.”

He took another sip from his cup. “I already am baby girl.”

The doorbell rang.

“Ma! Someone is at the door, you want me to get it?” Tara yelled.

“Yes, but I’m not expecting anyone.”

Tara opened the door and nearly fell on the floor.

“Michael!”

He stood there with a bouquet of flowers like he was inviting her out for a date. Tara looked around the room to see the shocked faces of her family. She didn’t know what else to do, so she invited him in.

“Hello Tara. First, here, these are for your mother. I just wanted to show my concern for you and your family and secondly I just came to check on you, you know since Blake was still out of the country, I wanted to show my support.”

Tara handed the flowers to her mom.

“Thank you! And you are?” Her mom asked.