Twelve Days of Pleasure (4 page)

Chapter 4

“S
o what do you know about her?” Tarah Boudreaux asked her sister. She lifted her legs onto the mattress top, tucking them beneath her bottom.

Maitlyn shrugged her shoulders as their sister Kamaya pulled a brush through the length of her hair. “All I know is what Kendrick told me. She's a friend and she just stopped by to say hello to him. He's going to drop her off at the airport when he takes me and Zak to our plane.”

“Since when does my twin bring a
friend
home?” Kamaya questioned, her eyebrows raised. She twisted a strand of Maitlyn's hair around a large-barreled curling iron.

“A friend with a baby,” Tarah added.

Maitlyn shook her head. “It's not Kendrick's baby, so does it matter?”

Tarah pursed her lips in annoyance. “Are we sure about that?”

Maitlyn blew a deep sigh. “Tarah, you know good and well Kendrick is not that baby's father. Vanessa's not her mother. It's her cousin's baby or something. I don't know why you even want to go there.”

“I'm just saying,” Tarah intoned. “They both look a little too comfortable together if you ask me.”

“Actually I think they're kind of cute together,” Maitlyn mused. “I like her.”

“I just find it strange that the first time he brings a
friend
home for us to meet it's at your wedding. This can't be casual,” Kamaya said before standing back to stare at Maitlyn's head.

The three were interrupted by their mother, who peeked her head into the bedroom. “You girls need to stop gossiping about our company. Your daddy and I taught you better than that.”

“We weren't gossiping,” Tarah replied. “We just had some questions.”

Katherine changed the subject. “Don't do her curls too tight, Kamaya. Maitlyn doesn't look right with tight curls.”

“I know, Mama. They're going to fall some.”

Katherine smiled. She moved to Maitlyn's side and leaned to kiss her daughter's cheek. “You were a beautiful bride today. Zakaria is a very lucky man.”

Maitlyn nodded. “I think I might keep him,” she said, joy glowing across her face.

“Mama, you don't think it's odd that Kendrick suddenly shows up with a woman and a baby we don't know anything about?”

“Tarah, you're about to work my last nerve,” Katherine admonished. “Leave them two alone. If there was something Kendrick wanted us to know he would have told us.”

Tarah crossed her arms over her chest. “You sure about that? 'Cause Kendrick is always keeping secrets!”

“Yes, I am.” Katherine gave Tarah a light smack against her right thigh. “Now, mind your own business. If you spent as much time sweeping off your own porch you wouldn't have time to be sweeping off anyone else's.”

“Ouch!” Taryn muttered, rubbing at the offending spot.

Maitlyn laughed. “Like she's ever listened before!”

“Tell me again why you got married before sunrise to hang out with your family all day afterward?” Tarah snapped.

Maitlyn laughed. “Tell me why you think everyone should do everything by the book? I had my dream wedding and there were some things I needed to get done before my husband and I disappear for a few days. It's all worked out perfectly.”

Kamaya laughed. “Maitlyn took Senior's ‘work before pleasure' rule literally!”

* * *

In the guest bedroom, Vanessa pulled her knees to her chest, curling her body around Gabi's. They had both been sleeping soundly when the sound of laughter pulled Vanessa from her sleep. Noise and laughter never seemed to stop ringing throughout the family's home and she couldn't miss hearing her name being spoken a time or two.

Kendrick had forewarned her about his sisters. Maitlyn being clued in had helped, the woman running interference when the other two had bombarded her with questions. Vanessa smiled.

She and Tarah were the same age, twenty-seven. They liked the same music, had shoe fetishes, dressed similarly, and both were in school working on advanced degrees. She imagined that if she were closer to her two brothers she would probably be the same way. But there was a considerable age difference between her and her siblings. It didn't help that both men had stayed in Mexico when their father was named ambassador to the United States, choosing not to move to Washington, DC, with the rest of the family. She didn't know enough about her brothers to be in their business that way. Tarah had the advantage there. Vanessa thought they could be good friends if things were different.

“If things were different” seemed to be a foregone conclusion to every thought she'd been having. If things were different, she might be able to relax and enjoy the family that was trying to make her feel comfortable. If things were different, she could flirt a little, or maybe even a lot, with the good-looking secret agent who was keeping a close eye on her. If things were different, she wouldn't feel so self-conscious, biting her tongue for fear of saying the wrong thing to the wrong person. But things weren't different and everything about where she was and what might happen to her was making her nervous.

Vanessa heaved a deep sigh, and then shifted her body from Gabi's. She knew the little girl would probably sleep for a good while but she was wide-awake and wanting answers about where they were headed next. Leaving the room door cracked in case Gabi woke and called out, Vanessa eased herself down the length of the hallway. Moving into the family's kitchen she wasn't expecting to turn and find the matriarch standing behind her. She jumped as she came face-to-face with the woman.

Katherine smiled brightly. “I didn't mean to scare you, baby. Would you like a cup of tea?”

Vanessa smiled and shook her head. “No, thank you, Mrs. Boudreaux. I do want to thank you for everything, though. You and your family have been really sweet.”

Katherine nodded. “You are welcome here anytime. Any friend of Kendrick's is a friend of ours. It's too bad your bus didn't get here sooner so you could have made the wedding. It was a beautiful ceremony!” She moved to the other side of the center island as she lifted a teakettle onto the stove. “I peeked in on that sweet baby. Just as precious as she can be. And she's a handful! Little Miss Gabi has a lot of spirit.”

Vanessa nodded. “She will definitely keep you on your toes,” she answered.

“She's missing her mama. Hopefully she'll be able to get back to her soon.”

Vanessa couldn't stop her eyes from misting with tears, suddenly wishing she could tell the kind woman about her and Gabrielle's situation. Instead, she nodded, feeling even more awkward. “Do you know where I might find your son?” she asked, needing to change the subject.

“The men are all out on the patio,” Katherine said, pointing toward the outside.

Vanessa stood chewing on her bottom lip. She hated feeling as if she was intruding, having no level of comfort to call on. The emotion was painted all over her face and Katherine moved to ease her anxiety.

“Don't you worry about them boys,” she said as she gestured for Vanessa to follow her.

As they moved outdoors the men's conversation came to an abrupt halt. They were engaged in a heated debate about Miami versus New York in basketball. Kendrick and Zak both turned to stare at her. His father, Senior Boudreaux, gestured toward his wife. “Don't you come out here fussin', woman!”

Katherine rolled her eyes as she moved to her husband's side, leaning to press her lips to his cheek. “No one's fussing at you. Kendrick's friend was looking for him.”

“I didn't mean to interrupt,” Vanessa said softly, her eyes meeting Kendrick's.

“Pretty lady, you're not interrupting. We were just talking basketball,” Senior said.

Vanessa smiled. “Well, my money's on New York to make the play-offs and take down Miami in the finals.”

Senior jumped to his feet, throwing his hands into the air. “That's what I'm talking about! What did I say to you? Sounds like this lady knows her game!”

Kendrick and his brother Donovan jumped up with him. “There's no way they're going to take down Miami!” both exclaimed excitedly. “Not this year, or next year!”

Vanessa shrugged. “Miami's days are numbered. Just wait and see.”

“How do you figure that?” Kendrick questioned. His eyes narrowed as he stared at her.

Vanessa moved toward him. “History.”

“A history of getting beat,” Kendrick intoned.

Vanessa smiled. “Not true. All of their matchups have been marked by aggressive play, defensive struggles, numerous foul calls and some intense physical play. You can trace that history back to Pat Riley and how he coached both teams back in the day. Both played hard and they went tit for tat. Now, granted, it took some serious reengineering of their roster to get New York back on point but this past year put them back on the map. They're a solid team and they're working together like a fine-oiled machine. They are going to serve them some serious game and I don't think Miami is going to be able to keep up. Besides, it's time they got their butts beat.”

“Now I know you don't know what you're talking about,” Kendrick exclaimed.

Vanessa smiled. “I bet you two courtside seats to a play-off game that I know exactly what I'm talking about.”

Kendrick grinned. “I'll take that bet,” he said, seemingly intrigued that she had the nerve to challenge him.

Her smiled widened, her gaze still locked with his. There was a moment of pause as the family stood staring at them both.

Donovan interrupted the silence. “You need to check your girl, bro!

Senior laughed. “I like you, little lady. School these youngsters!”

Katherine shook her head as she laughed with her husband. “Vanessa, as you can see, my boys take their sports very seriously.”

Vanessa nodded, suddenly unnerved by the look Kendrick was giving her, his dark gaze seeming to strip her naked where she stood. She felt her breath catch in her throat. She was grateful when his mother distracted his attention away from her.

“I told Maitlyn you boys are waiting on her now. She said she'll be ready in about ten minutes. But, Zakaria, if you don't move that girl along you two are never going to get on that plane for your honeymoon,” Katherine said as she took a quick glance down at her watch. “And I imagine Miss Vanessa and that sweet baby need to be headed to the bus station soon, too. Kendrick, did you put all the bags in the car?”

Kendrick and Zak exchanged a quick look. “Yes, ma'am,” her son answered.

“Now, if you need to go on and take Vanessa, one of your brothers can run Zak and your sister to their plane.”

Kendrick shook his head. “We're good. I can take them both.”

Zak nodded. “And, if necessary, I can always arrange for a limo. But you know how Maitlyn is, Miss Katherine. She'll just go with the flow. If things aren't perfect she will figure out a way to make them perfect.”

Senior nodded. “It's a good thing she's spending your money, Zakaria. I'd be hot if she were spending my money!”

The men laughed as Katherine shook her head. “Well, we'll go check on her again and get everyone ready to say our goodbyes.” She reached for her husband's hand and pulled him along behind her. “You all should come on in so we can give them a send-off,” she said, tossing the comment over her shoulder as she and Senior moved back inside the home.

Zak came to his feet. “I'll see you two in a minute,” he said as he followed behind his new in-laws.

“I guess I'll go, too,” Donovan intoned.

And just like that Kendrick and Vanessa were surrounded by quiet, nothing but a low breeze blowing through the porch.

Vanessa wrapped her arms around her torso, hugging herself tightly. “I really like your family,” she said, moving to take the seat his father had just vacated.

Kendrick nodded. “They're a good bunch,” he responded, dropping down onto the cushion chair beside her. “So why were you looking for me?”

“I was hoping that you could tell me what's going to happen next? I know we can't stay here.”

“No, we can't.”

“So where are we going?”

“You really are a worrier, aren't you?”

“Don't I have reason to be?”

Kendrick shrugged his broad shoulders. “You really can relax. You're going to be fine. I'm going to make sure of it. I promised you that.”

Vanessa took a deep breath, holding it for a quick moment before she blew the warm air past her lips. Kendrick stared blankly at her again.

“What?” she said, catching his look.

Kendrick held up his hands. “Nothing. Sorry, I didn't mean to stare.” He moved onto his feet. “We should go get Gabi ready. We need to leave soon,” he said softly. Then without another word he turned and moved back into his family's home, leaving her sitting by her lonesome.

Vanessa sat in reflection for a few more minutes, staring at the late-afternoon sun as it began its slow descent in the bright blue sky. The days were starting to feel very long, one running right into the other. She had been able to sleep only in hourly increments since that night at the club when everything that could have gone wrong did. As the air cooled around her she suddenly felt as if time had come to a standstill and she was stuck in the midst of a tailspin with no way out. Inside, the family was consumed with joy and happiness, laughter ringing from room to room. In the midst of it she caught sight of Kendrick, little Gabrielle in his arms, her head resting against his shoulder. He didn't seem to have a care in the world. Rising to her feet, she moved inside to join them.

* * *

“What do you mean the baby's not going with us?” Vanessa snapped, her eyes darting from Kendrick to Zak and back. “Where is she going?”

“Zak and my sister are taking her to DC, to the Mexican embassy. The embassy is helping to find her grandparents and your mother has agreed to watch her until that happens.”