Hidden Intentions 2 Read online

  Our last stop was my parents’ house. They had grown very fond of Natalie and Michael. Deep down, I think they secretly desired for Leah and I to push out some grandbabies of their own. After Mommy gave them tropical-flavored Fruit Roll-Ups, she became their new best friend.

  By early evening time we were back at my house. I was helping Natalie to stir the saucepan.

  She asked, “Auntie Nya, how long will the marshmallows take to melt?”

  “It will only take a few minutes.”

  I clapped to praise Michael after he poured the box of Rice Krispies cereal in the buttered pan. The kids and I had fun as we mixed the cereal and melted marshmallows together. While we were making the treats, they couldn’t help but lick their sticky fingers.

  An hour later, Yvette and Jarvis arrived, just in time to enjoy what the kids had made.

  “Nya, thank you so much for watching our little rug rats,” Jarvis said, holding both of them in his arms.

  “Thanks, sweetie.” Yvette hugged me.

  Thirty minutes after they left to go home, my cell phone rang.

  “How’s work?” I asked Vince after picking up the phone.

  “We finished early.”

  “Great. Do you want to come over and lick Rice Krispies Treats off of me?”

  “Hmm. That’s sounds good, just as long as you let me lick it off your pussy.”

  I giggled. “I’ll think about it.”

  “Are you still off all of next week?”

  “Yes, I have a lot of vacation hours still left. Instead of cashing them in, this year I actually wanted to take the time off.”

  “You’ll be happy to know that I’m taking off too. Pack your bags. We’re going on a trip. Don’t ask where. It’s a surprise. It’ll be good for us to get away. Plus, I’m getting hard just thinking I’ll have you all to myself for an entire week.”

  “When are you picking me up?”

  “I will be at your front door tomorrow morning around nine o’clock. I’m tying up a few loose ends. See you later.”

  Chapter 46

  Besides my ears constantly popping, the flight was bearable. Chewing gum helped and I made sure to bring along my iPod. Vince slept during the entire flight and missed out on the tasty snacks the flight attendants gave away. I finally got a chance to listen to the complete album of a singer named Adele. Donna had recommended her album a few months ago, and I’d been a fan ever since. She and I both liked “Daydreamer” and “Make You Feel My Love.”

  Even though, we would be gone for five days, I’d packed enough clothes for ten days, which was only a mere three suitcases.

  Vince couldn’t get enough of the Viva La Juicy fragrance I was wearing. For the first time, in a long time, I felt totally at ease with my life.

  “Where are we heading to?” I anxiously asked after arriving at the Atlanta airport and picking up the Honda CR-V at the rental car center. Did he really think I wasn’t going to try asking at least one more time?

  “You’ll see.” He grinned as we pulled out of the parking lot.

  The staff at downtown Atlanta’s W Hotel was courteous and professional with Southern charm and hospitality. Our hotel room looked fresh and clean, and had an urban oasis theme. And the view of the many skyscrapers surrounding us were breathtaking.

  “I love the room. I appreciate you taking me away,” I announced, lying on the bed.

  “Me too. It’s way too early to go to bed. You’ve still got the rest of the day ahead of you.”

  I sprung up from the bed. “I’m ready.”

  “At home, you break your neck to watch the National Geographic channel, so I figured you would enjoy Zoo Atlanta.” He turned onto Cherokee Avenue.

  When Ne-Yo’s song, “She Got Her Own,” popped on the radio, he started serenading me. I couldn’t help but laugh.

  With the digital camera and zoo map in my left hand, and Vince holding the other hand, we started off on the grand tour. All of the volunteers I stopped were kind enough to answer the many questions I had.

  When we arrived there, the skies were gloomy, but the day turned out to be bright and sunny. This zoo was much larger than the Norfolk Zoo. The highlights of the tour were the African lions, rhinoceroses, giraffes, clouded leopards, flamingos, and king vultures. We learned that the black mamba, Aruba Island rattlesnake, and the bushmaster were the most venomous snakes. Even with them caged up, I was still frightened by them.

  To cool down from the heat, we snacked on Edy’s all natural lime-flavored Fruit Bars.

  The last thing we did was ride the Georgia Natural Gas Blue Flame Express. I had no idea what Vince had next on the agenda.

  It turned our Vince was paying attention when I mentioned to him a while back that I had never been skating. He took me to a beautiful outdoor skating rink. We skated quite a few laps around the rink, and I only had two falls. Not bad for my first time. Vince kept showing off his skills and didn’t fall once. The two times I fell was because I was trying to avoid running into another person.

  Once reaching Kennesaw, Georgia, I had a taste for chicken and steak fajitas. We decided to eat a late dinner at El Nopal Mexican Family Restaurant and head back to the hotel for some much-needed sleep.

  The next day we rode down to the Kennesaw Civil War Museum and the National Battlefield Park. With Vince’s passion for history, he was eager to tell me one of America’s most cherished railroad stories, surrounding the date of April 12, 1862.

  Since we were in his hometown, Vince showed me his elementary, junior high, and high school.

  “Whose house is this?” I inquired as he pulled up to a beautiful two-story house.

  “It’s my parents’ house. I want you to meet them,” he said, getting out of the car.

  Before I could get a word in, Vince’s brothers, Howard and Stuart, were coming over to the car to welcome me. Mr. and Mrs. Rappaport and Beverly, his baby sister, all stood on the porch. Vince’s best friend, Gary, and his two sons stopped by to visit. I had to admit, these folks were so friendly, the way they opened up their home to me. Pictures of their childhood and older generations all hung on the wall leading up the stairs for display. It was interesting to get a glimpse of Vince’s great-great-grandfather. He looked just like him.

  Mrs. Rappaport and Beverly whisked me away to play bingo. It was my first time. Luckily, I won two hundred and fifty dollars. Since they taught me how to play, I split it three ways with them.

  After we got back to the house, Mrs. Rappaport wasted no time putting an apron on my waist to help prepare dinner. Fried chicken, fried catfish, string beans, corn on the cob, mashed potatoes, and coleslaw were on the menu. For dessert, handmade apple dumplings were turning golden brown in the oven. Mrs. Rappaport made it a point to cook everything from scratch.

  “Make sure you come back,” Vince’s parents said, as they and the rest of his friends and family hugged me good-bye.

  “What did you think about them?” Vince inquired, jumping on the highway.

  “Your friends and family are wonderful people. They truly love you. As far as what I think about the stunt you pulled today, you’re a jerk. It was wrong.”

  “Huh?”

  “Vince, you put me on the spot with no regard to my feelings. We never discussed meeting your family. From visiting the museums and going to the schools, I felt raggedy. When you meet someone’s parents, you have to mentally prepare yourself and make sure you look your best. If I knew, I wouldn’t have come in jeans and a shirt.”

  “Nya, you definitely made a good impression. Don’t worry about you being sweaty. All I wanted you to do is be yourself,” he assured me with a slight grin shaking his head.

  “It’s not funny. I don’t know what you told your parents about me, or my situation with not being divorced yet. I don’t appreciate being blindsided. Last time I checked, couples make decisions together.” I lay back in the seat, not wanting to speak another word to him for the rest of the way.

  As we entered the hotel room, he said
, “Listen, Nya—”

  “I’m tired, hot, and sweaty, and don’t feel like talking. Good night.” I went to the bathroom and slammed the door. All I wanted to do was take a hot shower and go to sleep.

  Overall, we had such a fun day, I thought. I climbed in the bed hoping I made it clear to Vince to stay his distance away from me. I needed some cool-down time.

  “I apologize for not letting you know I wanted you to meet my family. You’re so important to me,” he whispered in my ear. “I love you and just got so excited about bringing you home to meet them. Due to the demands of the business, I don’t have the luxury of visiting them often. I thought this would be great opportunity. I agree with you. We are in this together, and I should have discussed it with you first.”

  “I forgive you.”

  “Glad to hear it.” Vince hugged me and slid his hands toward my panties. He slid them off.

  “What are you doing?”

  “I have a date with your clit. She’s been waiting for me all day.”

  Vince opened my legs and slid his tongue into my love cave, giving me no choice but to cum in his mouth.

  Chapter 47

  Vince gently rubbed my back. “Is everything okay between us?”

  “Yes. We had our first fight since becoming official, that’s all. I forgive you and want to move forward” I rubbed my nose against his.

  For the first few months in a relationship, men tend to be on their best behavior. Then their true colors come out. Vince tended to jump the gun a bit. That was okay, as long as he was able to recognize and correct it. I had issues as well but, what was important was we could work them out.

  “So do I. Now, our final destination will be the island of Turks and Caicos. Our flight leaves in about two and a half hours.”

  “Wow!” I giggled, feeling excited. “I want to get a few more bites of breakfast, and then we can go.”

  “I should try to eat a little bit myself. We’ll be in the air for a while.”

  “Do you think we can visit Kennesaw more often? I really enjoyed spending time here.”

  He nodded. “I can definitely arrange that.”

  Upon arriving on the island, I learned we were staying at the exclusive Windsong Resort. Our oceanfront suite came with a Jacuzzi, rooftop terrace, grill, high-definition television, and cozy lounge chairs. Marble countertops, stainless steel appliances, washer, dryer, and gourmet kitchen were included in the package. An all-day spa and fitness center was an extra bonus during our time at the resort.

  We didn’t hesitate swimming in the turquoise water and walking on the powdered sands. Each morning I would wake up and sit outside to soak up the air and atmosphere. And, at night, I’d crack the door open to hear the waves, which gave me such a relaxing feeling.

  I couldn’t get enough of the red ruby grapefruit and the sweet orange served at the continental breakfast every morning.

  Every day, I tried something new. Vince enjoyed the pecan-crusted mahimahi with rice and peas I prepared for him. While shopping at a market, a local woman was kind enough to give me the recipe. For my last dinner on the island, I had a tender, moist piece of lamb with steam vegetables wrapped in a pita.

  In the four days we stayed, Vince and I went sailing, horseback riding, diving, kayaking, sailing, and snorkeling. We took countless pictures, and we had the memories to cherish.

  After arriving home, for a moment, I didn’t want to go back to work. But once I pulled a stack of bills out the mailbox, the reality set in. This month was going to be the first time that I had to pay the mortgage all by myself.

  After sorting through the bills and unwanted junk mail, I saw a letter all citizens across the United States of America dread—a court summons for jury duty.

  Chapter 48

  I tried to fake being pregnant to get out of jury duty. It didn’t work. Unless I was going to be hospitalized, reporting to criminal courthouse room number five at the Chesapeake General District Court was a priority. Finding a doctor to sign off on a lie wasn’t worth the trouble.

  Ten years ago, my aunt couldn’t find a substitute teacher for her classes and failed to call the night before to see if she had to appear. She decided to go to work and not leave her high school students stranded for the day. Since she failed to report to jury duty, the system tracked her down and hit her with penalties and fines for not showing up in court. She had to pay a hefty price and serve on the very next case.

  Unfortunately, at jury selection, I was hand-picked by the defense team. When the defendant’s lawyer looked my way and nodded, I knew I was destined to be a juror on the case.

  The trial for Mr. Andrew Keeman began at nine o’clock in the morning. He was on trial for the murder of his wife. On the night of the murder in question, Keeman claimed he came home to hear a screaming match between his wife Heather and another man. The man kept ordering his wife to go upstairs to the master bedroom. Keeman testified that he entered through the back door of the house and quietly went upstairs and waited in their bedroom shower to surprise the perpetrator. He stayed in the shower until he heard a loud gunshot. By the time he came out of the shower, it was too late. The gunman had already shot his wife in the head. Keeman claimed that, as he approached, the gunman shot his wife in the head a second time. He said he tried to wrestle him to the carpet floor and take the gun away from him, but he got shot in the arm, and the culprit ran away.

  The bailiff announced, “All rise. Honorable Judge Barry Slotkin.”

  “I can’t hear,” Mr. Berry, another juror declared, pointing to his ears.

  “Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. I’m James Farrell, the district attorney for the City of Chesapeake. I will prove to you in this courtroom that Andrew Keeman viciously murdered his wife for money. Mrs. Keeman had six life insurance policies on his wife totaling two million dollars. Throughout this case, I will take you into the world of his double life. Ultimately, Andrew Keeman thought he was entitled to the good life. Instead of working hard for the fruits of his labor, killing his wife was an easier plan.”

  “I can’t hear,” Mr. Berry announced again. This time, he was standing up.

  The judge requested Mr. Farrell repeat his opening statement. Then it was the defense’s turn.

  “Good morning, folks. My name is Gerald Sebert, the defendant’s attorney. It’s heartwrenching and sad what happened to the Keeman family. I’m here today to prove to you Andrew Keeman didn’t murder his beloved wife of fifteen years and mother of his four children. The evidence will speak for itself and prove this man’s innocence,” he stated, pointing to the defendant.

  “I can’t hear,” Mr. Berry replied for the third time, tugging on his ears.

  “Mr. Berry, we can’t continue to have these interruptions. We need to get you proper hearing equipment before we can proceed. Court is adjourned until tomorrow morning at the same time, nine o’clock.” The judge hurried off to his chambers.

  I wasn’t sure I could take another moment of this.

  The trial went on for two weeks and three days. Since the case was high-profile, with television and radio stations swarming around the courthouse to get the latest buzz, the jurors were sequestered in a nearby hotel to discuss the case. On a few nights, Vince snuck into my room to keep me company.

  We were a hung jury until one juror, Missy Swain, pointed out a picture taken in the shower. It showed a can of beer on the shower floor. It was found to be three-fourths full. If your wife was being shot by an intruder, why would you be drinking a beer?

  No other DNA was found at the crime scene, except his and his wife’s. The most damaging testimony was that of a neighbor who was outside at the time of the murder and didn’t see any intruder. All he saw was Mr. Keeman coming home late, which was unusual for him.

  Mr. Keeman’s wounds appeared to be self-inflicted, and a forensics examination found his fingerprints on the gun used to kill his wife. They also found gunpowder residue on his right hand. He claimed he grabbed the gun to try to shoot the
intruder while they were wrestling. According to him, he fired one shot and missed. What didn’t add up was, only two bullet shells were found at the crime scene, and there was no trace of a third shot being fired.

  With evidence stacked against him, Andrew Keeman was found guilty of first-degree murder, and the jury sought the death penalty. The guilty verdict meant that the four Keeman children were now orphans.

  After the verdict was announced Heather’s brother jumped the benches when no one was paying attention and wrestled Keeman to the ground. Once he got him on the floor, the brother stomped him on his head repeatedly.

  Four bailiffs had to pry the brother away from Keeman. People were screaming and running out of the blood-splattered courtroom. Quickly, more bailiffs showed up on the scene to get control of the matter at hand.

  Chapter 49

  “Nya, in case you didn’t know, medical scrubs isn’t the new look for the summer. You should buy yourself some new clothes,” Leah informed me while checking online for new dresses.

  I was in her bedroom watching The Game, a show on the CW television network. “You go through money like it’s liquid in your hands, whether your bills are paid or not. Right now, I don’t have the luxury of spending what I have. I have other priorities.”

  “Well, if you change your mind, I’m on my way to Nordstrom’s to try on and buy this dress I’ve been eyeing for weeks. I just got paid and don’t have a care in the world.”

  “I refuse to see you spend cable and light bill money on a dress.”

  “You’re just jealous.”

  “Yeah, right. Well, you go on without me. I’m sure I won’t change my mind about going.”

  “Will you be here when I get back?”

  “No, I’m leaving out too. I’m still putting in overtime hours to make ends meet,” I explained, grabbing my things to leave.