When Saint Goes Marching In (14 page)

Xenia
smiled and sighed, They lie spoon fashion, both coming down from the high of the lovemaking session that had ended ten minutes prior. “I’m really excited, Saint,” she said as she looked over at the evening news.

“You should be. This award is important. You earned it. As with everything you do, it’s successful. I’m so glad your blog column has expanded and that you’re now guest hosting. Soon, you’ll be running the show all by yourself.” Saint kissed her forehead.

“I know. I just want to wait until Dakarai is five to go back full time. That way, I’ll know that I did what I was supposed to do before I start working full time again. He’ll be in school.”

Saint smiled and nodded. “Thank you for that. I’ve always been so happy that you didn’t see me as chauvinistic because I wanted you to stay at home with the boys. I only said a year for each and you’ve done even better. I appreciate that. During those formative years, that parental bond is important, especially with the mother.”

Xenia
smiled with understanding, knowing he was talking about his own mother as well. She turned in his arms and kissed him. Saint kissed her back, embracing her tightly as he moved around slowly under the sheets. Saint wrapped his legs around Xenia’s, scooted closer to the headboard until he was soon comfortably lying on top of her. He lovingly kissed the side of her neck, rubbed his bottom lip leisurely up and down it. Xenia moaned as she slid her hands around his back.

“Round three?” Xenia asked, her eyes wide and full of joy.

“Yeah, round three and we can take round four on the floor…” Saint whispered back as he cradled her tightly in his arms.

* * *

“I’m not sure,” George said, his voice cracking. “It happened all of a sudden.”

“Why in the fuck didn’t someone tell me about this…this morning? I just saw him!” Saint yelled angrily into the phone.

George fell silent for a few moments, then spoke in an even tone. “Saint, we’re all upset about this. I need you to calm down.”

“Don’t tell me to fucking calm down! He’s been in the hospital for four hours and no one said shit to me. If I hadn’t called the office tonight and asked his receptionist where the hell he was, I still wouldn’t have known!”

Saint disconnected the call as he pulled up to the hospital parking lot.

He quickly got out of his Lamborghini and walked briskly towards the hospital entrance. He waited impatiently as the automatic hospital doors opened and then barreled towards the information desk.

“I need James Kellser’s room,” Saint barked.

“Who are you?” the blond-haired woman with thick glasses asked with raised eyebrows.

“What the fuck does it matter who I am? Where the hell is he?”

“I will not be spoken to like that, sir! We need to know who you are because only family can see him.”

“He’s my father,” Saint said, believing the answer to the depths of his being.

“OK, hold on.” The woman turned to her computer and looked up the information. “He is in room 443. Take the elevator to the fourth floor.”

Before she was finished answering, Saint was standing in front of the elevator pushing the up button frantically. Impatiently, he looked around for the stairs, opened the door and raced up the steps as if he were on fire.

Saint reached the room and opened the door wide open without knocking. The two nurses inside turned to him and gasped. Saint’s angry energy and demeanor devoured them in one second. He made the room suddenly hot as he stood with a scowl on his face.

“Um, you’re here to see Mr. Kessler?” one of them asked hesitantly.

“Yes, how is he?”

Saint closed the door behind him, toning himself down as he picked up on their fear.

“Well, he’s stable. He’s resting now but he may be up for talking. We’ll leave you two alone. We’ll be back in about an hour to check on him,” one nurse said before they both exited the room.

Saint walked cautiously over to James and quietly held his hand. He stared at him, etching each wrinkle and smile line into his memory.

Can I heal him?
Saint thought to himself as he continued to survey James’ body.

James’ eyes flew open then, as if someone had splashed him with cold water. Saint sat down next to him, still gripping his hand tightly.

Why didn’t I know he was ill? Why can I pick up some people and others I can’t?

“Hello there, son.” James spoke weakly and smiled proudly, despite the tubes that ran out of his nose. “I guess I won’t be coming to your barbeque after all this weekend,” he chuckled.

“James, why didn’t you tell me you weren’t feeling well?” Saint asked, disappointed.

“If you knew I was sick, Saint, you would’ve been distracted. I know you well. You would have tried to help take care of me because you can’t seem to help yourself. I’ve watched you over the years with your wife and children. If one of them even has a sniffle, you are off and running. I knew you’d do the same thing to me. You care too much.” James smiled.

Saint looked at the white chest hair bellowing out of James’ gown and desperately wanted to slide his hand down across his heart. The temptation was almost too great to ignore.

“So, I’ve got a bad ticker, basically. I’ve known about it for years, Saint. I suppose it just caught up with me. The stress from work on Capitol Hill, as well as here at home, is taking its toll. I just want to enjoy the little bit of time I have left with my Queen. You are truly my son, to me, you and my wife are my family. Now, I want you to listen to me. I’ve left just about everything to Valerie, but I want you to have something special. She knows about it and she will give it to you when the time comes.”

“James, please don’t speak that way. You’re going to be OK.”

“Saint, you and I both know I don’t have a lot of time and you know what, son? I’m OK with that. Here is what I’m going to do. I’m going to keep working, only keep shorter hours and I need you to…” James coughed into his hand. “I need you to think about something important. George told me he let you know. I wished he hadn’t.”

“I already knew. He called me after I was already on my way.”

James shook his head. “No, not about me being in here. I told him to be quiet until we could tell you together but I want you to take my place. Don’t worry about not being good enough. I know you can do it, Saint. I’ve been grooming you for this since your first conference. Your dynamism, dedication, and astuteness will take the world by storm, time and again, and this is the right move. It’s time! As far as I’m concerned, you still have a little time to think about it but don’t take too long. What is your hesitation about? Be honest with me, Saint.”

“My family, Xenia, is already pissed about all the time I spend at work. This will be even worse. I want to do it, Lord knows I do, but I can’t hurt her like that,” Saint confessed. “I already don’t spend enough time with them, I feel guilty as it is.”

James nodded. “You know what? That’s the beauty of being in my shoes, Saint. You can set your own hours and delegate! You’d be working less than you do now, young man. What George told you was the truth. Don’t you think I thought about all of that? I would never take you further away from your Queen. You have two beautiful children who need you,” James explained. “I need to know your decision as soon as possible but I want you to think about it again before you commit or decline. You need some final training that only I can provide.”

Saint nodded in understanding.

“Now, I want you go back home to your beautiful Xenia and make me another grandchild, preferably a little girl this time,” James teased.

“No, I want to stay right here,” Saint said, misty eyed as he glared at James.

“No, Saint. Now I mean it. There is nothing you can do by staying here.” James coughed again, this time into the cradle of his arm.

Yes I can.

“Now, you’re the same man who just told me how important your family is to you so that means that you need to go home to them, Saint,” James said sternly. “Valerie will be here shortly. She left to pick me up some food that I’m not supposed to have.” James laughed.

Saint smiled and tightened his hold on James’ hand.

James waved him off. “Go on now.”

Saint stood up and slowly let go of his hand.

“I’ll be back tomorrow,” Saint said as he walked towards the door.

James nodded. “I know you will. Something inside you tells you that you have no choice.”

* * *

“Saint, are you sure you still want to come?” Xenia asked worriedly as she put on her pearldrop earrings. She looked at herself in the mirror then reapplied her lipstick.

“Baby, I wouldn’t miss this for the world,” Saint responded as he slid on his cufflinks.

“Well, James has been in the hospital for a week and you’ve been acting super crazy. Honey, we just have to pray and leave it in God’s hands.” Xenia smoothed down the sides of her form-fitting long black dress.

Saint took pleasure in how it hugged her curves. His sexual appetite was awakened after two restless nights due to stress about James’ health and the proposition to take his place. Saint’s carnal desires and amped sex drive were rarely squelched but those recent events had put a damper on his effort. He walked over to her, took her in his arms and pressed his lips briefly but firmly against hers.

Xenia
looked up at him affectionately. “You smeared my lipstick, boy,” she joked as she pinched his cheek. “Uh uh, Saint, don’t look at me like that. I know that look all too well,” Xenia warned. “We’ve got to get ready to go. Finish getting dressed. The babysitter will be here in the next ten or so minutes anyway.”

Saint smiled and begrudgingly slinked away.

“Showtime!” Xenia said proudly as she looped her arm around his and led him out of their bedroom into the upstairs hallway.

* * *

“We are so pleased this evening to announce the return of a very important person in this circus we call radio! She left us to go do the wife and mommy thing,” the host announced to the packed audience.

Everyone clapped and the attention of many turned to Xenia when a spotlight focused on her in the crowded room.

Saint sat next to her proudly and gripped her hand.

“She is sassy, energetic, beautiful, married to one of the sexiest and most controversial men in the world…” Several people laughed including Saint. “And her talent knows no bounds. I’m talking about Xenia Aknaten, formerly Donnellson! Welcome back, girl. Come up here and get this award!”

People stood up and cheered as Xenia rose from her seat. She bent back down and gave Saint a delicate peck on the lips before sauntering off to the stage. Saint watched her hug the hostess at the podium. He stood and clapped proudly before sitting back down along with the rest of the audience.