We Didn’t See it Coming (4 page)

He looked to see Alana lying on the floor. He took her pulse and realized that she was gone. He ran up the stairs and found Kenley still curled up against the wall. “Stay calm,” he said to her as well.

He went down to the east wing. Milandra sobbed as she held on to her father. Baron lifted her off of him. “Come on, Milandra. Stay calm.” He led her to where Kenley sat. “You Houstons need to comfort each other.”

Baron went back down to the east wing, but this time he went to Rupert's study. He hurried over to his laptop computer. Rupert was still logged on. Baron strolled down through all of the emails
in his mailbox files until he saw the email that he was looking for. He saw that the email came from juicyascanbe. He deleted it.

He ran back down the east wing and stepped over Rupert to enter the master suite. He looked around until he discovered the destroyed cell phone on the floor. He dared not put any of his fingerprints on the phone. This was a crime scene until the cause of death was pronounced.

Baron stepped back over Rupert to leave the suite when he noticed his eyes were still open and as sharp as a blade. He knelt down and closed Rupert's eyes.

“Damn! I wanted to pay you back, but not to this extent.” Baron became sentimental over the death of the man who had helped build his career. He wiped his watery eyes as he stood up and noticed the paramedics approaching the room. “Hello, I'm Baron Chavis, the Houstons' attorney and friend.”

“Do you know exactly what happened here?” one of them asked.

“No, I'll have to get one of his daughters to tell you. I arrived shortly before you,” he explained.

Baron made his way to get Milandra, since she was the oldest. She was huddled down on the floor with her sisters, in tears.

“The paramedics need to speak to you. They need to know what might have happened,” he said.

Milandra wept as he helped her to stand up. He placed his arms around her and led her down the hall. She trembled as she explained to the paramedics what happened. “My sisters and I had just come home from a day out with our mother. Mother was on her way into her room to take her daily heart medicine when she discovered Father on the floor. I guess the shock of seeing him lying there was more than she could bear. She tried to warn us but was unable to speak. She gasped for breath, and the next thing we
knew she had tumbled down the stairs. My father, I have no clue as to what happened to him. Is he okay?” Milandra hoped he might have just fainted.

“I'm afraid not; your father is also dead. From the look of things he had a massive heart attack, and so did your mother.”

“No, not Father and Mother. They're our life. We breathe for our parents. My God, what will we do without them?” Milandra ran back to her sisters. She cried. “Father is dead, too.”

Her sisters heard her loud and clear. Kenley stomped her feet rapidly on the floor. Noelle banged her fist against the wall until a colorful painting of a floral arrangement fell and crumbled into tiny pieces of glass. Milandra leaned against the wall and sobbed.

Baron came to their rescue. “Girls, try to get control of yourselves. Think of what your father and mother would say if they were here.”

The sisters thought of what their parents would say. They knew that their words would be empowering: that no matter what troubles happen in their family, they must stand tall and gain strength from each other. And when joy comes their way, they should rejoice in unity, for they are forever Houstons.

Just like robots, the girls wiped away their sobbing eyes. They brushed off their linen clothes. They went downstairs into the open-spaced kitchen adjacent to a family room where a plasma television showed the news. In a matter of time, their family's sadness would be plastered over the television screen, as well as the front pages of every local newspaper.

“Kenley, get something cold out of the refrigerator for us to drink. Noelle, you get the glasses,” Milandra instructed.

Kenley opened the refrigerator door that was hidden behind a wooden cabinet. She spotted a bottle of sparkling cider.

Noelle took out three crystal glasses. She filled one with extra ice, for which Kenley could not do without. She filled the glasses with cider. Each sister held up her glass.

“We're Houstons. We'll get through this,” Milandra toasted.

“It's going to be so hard,” Noelle admitted.

“Why did this have to happen? I wish I hadn't given Mother such a hard time about where I wanted my party. I hate becoming sixteen. How can I have a birthday party without Mother and Father?” Kenley wept.

“Just stop it, Kenley,” Milandra scolded her. “Your sixteenth birthday celebration will go on. It's tradition.”

“Cheers,” Noelle said as she tapped her glass against her sisters'.

They took a sip from the glasses.

Kenley sat down at the table. She put her glass down and bowed her head. “Milandra, I'm not as strong as you and Noelle.” Tears flowed down her cheeks.

Noelle placed her glass on the table. She put her arm around her sister. “Go ahead, Kenley, cry all you want. We all should cry ourselves to sleep tonight.”

“How can you both forget that fast what Mother and Father have taught us?” Milandra asked.

Kenley jumped up. “It hurts, Milandra. It truly hurts.”

Noelle wiped the tears from her baby sister's face. Milandra came over and they both comforted her for a few seconds. She spoke, “I can't sit here and do nothing.”

Milandra exited the kitchen to help finish handling their family saga.

After a while, Baron entered into the kitchen. Kenley and Noelle were busy watching the television screen for any breaking news of their sorrow.

“I'm so sorry about all this tragedy that has come down on your family,” he said.

“You're family, too,” Noelle said as she found the strength to give him a smile. She got up, went over to him, and gave him a hug. She pressed close to him.

“I appreciate the love,” he said as he moved on and gave her sister a hug.

Kenley wondered, “Where's Milandra?”

“She's seeing everyone out. She's giving the housekeepers the night off.”

“The bodies…sorry, I didn't mean to say bodies. Your parents have been taken away. I told Milandra I'd handle all of the funeral arrangements,” he said.

“We do thank you, Mr. Chavis,” Noelle said; she wanted to call him by his first name.

Milandra made her way back into the kitchen. “The coast is clear. Maybe we should go and take a swim.”

“That'd be a good way for you all to relax. Or better yet, go out and sit by the lake.”

“I don't want to see any water. I want my parents,” Kenley cried.

“Don't be difficult. That is what mother would say to you. Now go put on your bathing suit,” Milandra demanded.

Kenley got up and ran from the kitchen.

“Mr. Chavis, I'll speak to you later. I'm going up to get ready for a swim and to make sure Kenley is doing the same.”

“Since you relieved the help, I'll tidy up the kitchen. I'll be up in a minute,” Noelle said.

Milandra exited the kitchen. Noelle waited until she didn't hear any sound of heels tapping against the floor. She rushed into his arms. She kissed Baron passionately.

“Baby, I've been wanting you to comfort me. Let's tell Milandra and Kenley about us. We no longer have any reason to keep our relationship a secret,” Noelle whispered in his ear.

He delicately pulled her away. “We need to wait. I don't think Milandra will take it lightly hearing about any contact we may have had. Right now is not the best time. She'll think you defied your parents. This will bring friction between you and your sisters. You need each other more now than ever.”

Noelle knew that what he said was true. Kenley would think nothing of it, but Milandra would be furious.

“I agree,” she said. “But as soon as things calm down, we'll find a way to share the news about the love we feel for each other. I love you, Baron, with all my heart.”

He barely got the words out of his mouth. “I love you, too.”

Noelle reached again and smothered his lips. He eased away from her.

“I better go,” he said. “Go take that swim with your sisters. Be strong.”

Tearfully, Noelle said, “I wish you didn't have to leave.”

“I'll see you soon,” he said and hurried out.

B
aron got into his car. As he loosened his tie, he could still smell the scent of Noelle's perfume. He could not believe that she actually thought a cup of coffee and a peck on the lips would imply that they were a romantic couple. Right now, however, he couldn't concentrate on her, but in due time he had to find a way to let her down gently because there was no future for them.

His concern was whether or not Rupert Houston's discovery about them had led to Rupert's and his wife's deaths. He felt deeply guilty for Alana's death, but he felt only a slight bit of guilt for her husband.

Rupert always wanted to be in control of everything, from his family down to his business. Everything was a possession to him. He did not want to share anything with anyone unless it was on his terms.

Baron made his way down the road, thinking of Rupert's illegitimate daughter. He had to call Aniyah and give her the sad news. He called his office and got the number from his secretary, then called her.

“Hello!” she answered in a high pitch.

“This is Mr. Chavis. I got your number from Mr. Houston's files. Do you remember me? I'm the attorney for your father.”

“How can I forget a hottie lawyer like you? You're the one that holds my future. You know I was added to Papa's will.”

“I have some disturbing news. Are you sitting down?”

“I know he didn't kick me to the curb?”

“No, it's something more serious. Mr. Houston died not long ago; so did his wife.”

Aniyah almost lost her balance. Dollar signs flashed across her eyes. She became a sobbing actress. “Papa is gone?” she bellowed.

“Yes.”

“Oh, I didn't even get to spend that much time getting to know him. Oh, Papa,” she cried.

“Are you okay?” he asked as he listened to how hysterical she was.

“No, I'm not okay! I have no one here! Please come over. I need to be with someone. I can't take this,” she sobbed.

He heard the phone drop onto the floor. He called, “Aniyah!”

She didn't answer. He heard her crying in the background. “I'm on my way over to you,” he said as he hung up the phone. He was quite aware of the location where Rupert had set up house for her. It was the same apartment he had used in the past for many of his female encounters.

Baron made a sharp U-turn and headed to her aid.

• • •

Aniyah clicked off the phone. She became hysterical with laughter. “Jackass, I knew you would fall for it.”

She didn't want anything going wrong. She wanted to make sure that what she estimated was due to her would be no problem getting to her, and Baron was the one to do it.

Aniyah stepped out of the short, sleeveless dress that she wore. She found her way to her suitcase and pulled out a black bikini,
slipping it on. Her breasts bulged from the top and her hips stretched the bottom to its limit. She went into the shower and soaked her bathing suit, not letting the water touch her long black hair. Her hard nipples were exposed through the top.

In her galley kitchen, Aniyah took out an onion and held the onion up to her face until it brought tears to her eyes. She stuffed the onion back into the bottom of the refrigerator.

Baron buzzed the bell repeatedly. “Open up, Aniyah,” he called.

She made her way to the door and unlocked it. He heard the click of the lock. Aniyah left the door and sat on the bed. He turned the knob and came into the apartment.

“Are you all right?” he asked.

“My papa is gone,” she cried, tears flowing from the effect of the onion.

She got up and turned her back to him. Baron tried not to look at her, but the wetness of the bathing suit clenched to her body turned him on. His eyes traveled up her legs to see her cheeks peeking out from under the bottom of her bikini.

Aniyah turned around and ran over to him. She lay in his arms. Her wet bikini dampened his suit.

Baron looked down at her breasts pressed against his chest. He stared at her as he did the first time he met her in his office. She reminded him so much of Tessa with her flowing black hair.

“You look so much like your mother.”

“I don't look like my papa?”

Baron tried to find some resemblance to Rupert or one of her half-sisters, but there was no resemblance. He felt that with her resting on him, he had been given a second chance with the woman that he loved. Temptation weakened him. He pushed Aniyah away. He saw a chair nearby and sat down.

“Yes, you look so much like him,” he lied.

“I was at the pool before you called. That's why I'm so wet,” she said as she eased her hand down her body. “Would you like a drink? I sure could use a stiff one,” she said, sniffling.

“I could use one myself.” He tasted the dryness in his mouth.

Aniyah went into the kitchen and returned with two plastic cups in her hands. Under her arm she held a half-filled bottle of rum. She poured nearly a cupful of rum for Baron but only poured herself a little.

Aniyah handed him the cup.

“You have a heavy hand, I see,” he said as he noticed the amount that she had given him.

“Drink what you want. Tell me what happened,” she said as she sat on the bed. She leaned back on her arms to give him a good view of her body.

Baron began to speak but tried to keep his eyes on an empty wall. He took a sip of the drink as he spoke. One sip too many and he became relaxed. He no longer cared to look at the empty wall. Instead, he feasted his eyes on her. She watched him gulp the drink down and went back to pour him more.