C.A.K.E

Chapter 19: The Jailbirds Take Flight

Flanked by two of her eternal protectors, Arden spends the duration of the car ride being coddled by

them both at alternate intervals.

Warren allows Elliott the lead role, keeping his inquiries about how she's feeling to a minimum and

resisting the urge to place her in one of his impenetrable bear hugs.

Taking notice of her father's restraint, she lifts her head from Eli's shoulder and reaches over to take

Warren's hand. They share a quick look, as he gives her hand a gentle squeeze.

Traffic is more of an issue heading south than usual at this time of day, which leaves Arden with more

time to mull about in her own headspace than she'd like.

On nights when the past isn't haunting her dreams, Casper fills that time slot. The stress of today has

pulled her even deeper into the guilty pleasure.

Until a few weeks ago, she was a married woman who enjoyed her life. She had a husband and two

kids whom she adored, and a successful business. Things were far from perfect. But everything made

sense.

Then he showed up with his deep brown eyes, six-foot-three build of hard-won muscle, and his smooth

words. And that damn British accent was just the cherry on top.

She doesn't even know Casper. Yet she's risking her relationship over him. And for what? A couple of

intoxicating, passionate kisses?

Trouble always comes knocking when she's the least prepared to deal with it. Now that the portal's

been opened, it'll be one problem after the other. She can feel it.

Elliott shifts beside her, snatching focus from her thoughts for a moment. The bit of sun that's permitted

past the window's heavy tint hits his face and illuminates his blue eyes. The light casts broken shadows

across his skin, providing the perfect backdrop for his fair features.

His pensive pose reminds her of the first days of their relationship when she used to spend much of

their time together just staring at him. All of that goo-goo-eyed infatuation gifted her with the ability to

decipher his mood by his body language. His current posture gives rise to a new level of anxiety for

her.

He's leaning against the door with one hand perched on his chin. The lines forming on his forehead

and the frown turning down his lips tell her that he's blaming himself for all this.

Eli is quick to shoulder the world's burden, a trait that makes arguing with him impossible. She can't be

upset with a man who always admits when he's wrong and tries to see her side. It's like having a

shouting match with a monk who broke his vow of silence just to assure you that he feels your pain. At

some point, you just look like an asshole who gets off on the harassment of a gentle soul. And she sure

as hell feels like one right now.

She betrayed her marriage vows today, several of them. There's been attention from a few men over

the years. Especially from black men who feel compelled to inform her that she's missing out on being

with a “real,” man.

She realized a long time ago that a real man is much more than his skin color or whatever might be

stretching out his boxer briefs. A real man doesn't have to inform the world that he is such. It's very

apparent in the light in his woman's eyes, and her willingness to shout his praises from every mountain

top and anthill alike.

Her husband is everything she ever wanted and needed. She can't figure out how a stranger has

managed to turn her world on its head in such a short time. If she could just put her finger on whatever

it is that has her drawn to Casper like a moth to a scorching flame, she could stamp out the culprit and

get back to her usual self.

Arden steals another glance at Eli, relieved that he seems too absorbed in his own emotional sludge to

notice that her palms are sweating despite the crisp climate of the car. The inner tempest that's roiling

in her gut keeps her as the lone passenger of its displeasure cruise.

Before her grip on reality can become any rockier, they're driving through the gates of her family's

estate. Coasting up the tree-lined road that leads to the main house, she's anxious to see Rowan and

Teagan.

Their driver brings the car to a stop right in front of the steps of the wraparound porch. Eli's parents and

the kids must have been watching for them because they're all outside before Othello has a chance to

put the car in park.

She can't contain the smile that spreads across her face when she sees Rowan and Teagan running

down the steps. The slight sting in her cheek reminds her of the cut on her otherwise smooth skin.

Reaching down into her handbag, she slips on a pair of wide-rimmed sunglasses and pulls on her

sweater. Then she removes the pins from her hair and tousles its curls, coaxing them into a face-

framing bob. She checks her appearance in the rearview mirror.

The oversized glasses hide the mark on her cheek, being further obscured by her dark hair. Her

sweater is concealing a couple of smaller scratches and bruises. The bandage on her hand can be

explained away as a kitchen mistake. Now somewhat presentable, she lets Eli help her down from the

backseat.

Ro and Tea rush their parents, taking turns smothering them both. They all hang onto each other like

the other might float away. Rowan puts a death grip on Arden, while his sister throws her arms around

Elliott.

"Mom ..." Ro bends to rest his head on her shoulder. She closes her eyes and embraces him even

tighter, letting her son's heated tears stain the cashmere of her cardigan.

"It's okay, sweetheart," she whispers. Planting a kiss on Rowan's cheek, she softly rubs his back as he

cries into her hair. She breathes through the tears that are cracking at her own voice. "We're all okay.

It's over."

Rowan's breathing returns to a more normal pace after another minute or so. When he pulls back from

her, she reaches up to wipe the tears from his face, earning a sad smile from him. Allowing Arden just

enough space to walk, Ro hangs onto her hand. She greets her in-laws with Rowan attached to her

side like Velcro.

John and Diane both hug and kiss Arden with as much enthusiasm as the kids. They spend more time

fussing over her than they do with their own son.

Diane is especially relieved to see that she is still in one piece. She latches herself onto Ardi's other

arm and doesn't show any sign of leaving her side anytime soon.

Once they're all done gushing over the two jailbirds, everyone files inside to the house's main living

area. They all settle into the sitting room and start in with a line of questioning about the past few hours.

Arden and Elliott exchange frequent looks with each other when the twins begin to ask about things

that might be best left unsaid. They haven't had a chance to discuss the most diplomatic way to tell Ro

and Tea that their mother has given vindictive a whole new meaning. Remaining quiet for now seems

like a better option. Rowan and Teagan must get the picture because they drop it. Something else has

caught their attention anyway.

"What happened to your hand?" Tea asks, pointing at the gauze circling Arden's hand.

"I um . . . cut myself this morning at work." Her uneasy laugh fills the air. "You'd think I could handle a

knife by now."

Both Elliott and Warren clear their throats. No one else in the room seems to be buying that

explanation either. Before anyone can ask about the reason she's still wearing sunglasses inside the

house, she excuses herself to her childhood bedroom.

Inside the four walls that could tell her life story, she strips off her clothes and throws them into the

wicker hamper in the linen closet. She turns on the shower and allows the water some time to heat

while she examines her face in the mirror.

A mild bruising has begun to surface around her cheekbone. Her fingers offer a hesitant touch to the

faint markings that are now visible on her neck and upper arms. Those will be ugly by tomorrow

morning.

An overwhelming combination of helpless frustration and sadness overtakes her. With the steam from

the shower building around her, she rests her palms on the pedestal sink and lets the tears flow at will.

The release lasts a few tortured seconds before she cuts it off with a harsh swipe of her hand. She

sighs at her reflection and opens the medicine cabinet.

Popping the package of a new toothbrush, she scrubs at her teeth and tongue until her gums are sore.

Then she grabs a bottle of mouthwash and gargles away any remaining traces of Casper and the

mulatto maniac.

She steps into the shower and lets the scalding hot spray run over her body. As the water courses over

her skin, she envisions the filth of the day running off her body and disappearing down the drain. If only

shedding what's on her mind was that easy.

After she's subjected her pores to a beating of near-boiling water, she covers herself in an embroidered

robe. She rests her foot on the settee at the end of the bed and massages cocoa butter into her skin.

When she switches to her other leg, she can feel the beginnings of the fatigue in her bones. It's only

going to get worse as the evening wears on.

In an attempt to fight off the urge to give in to the lethargy that's weighing her down, Arden walks into

the closet and takes a seat at the vanity. She sets out an array of makeup and begins applying

concealer along with a color-corrector to her cheek and underneath her eyes. A light buffing with a

foundation brush gets her caramel complexion back in the ballpark of its natural brilliance.

Ardi brushes her damp hair back into a low chignon and secures it with a pearl hair comb. Then she

moves to the opposite side of the walk-in to get dressed.

Bypassing jeans and more formal dresses, she selects a skirt with an ankle-grazing hem and lace

overlay. The white tea-length garment might be a bit much for a simple dinner at home. But jeans are

far too casual.

Dressing for dinner was never a spoken requirement of her and Adam growing up. But when the lady of

the house was at the other end of the table wearing a full skirt and a silk blouse, looking like the

definition of poise and femininity, a t-shirt and jeans just looked cheap by comparison.

She finds a matching lightweight sweater with a high neck and pushes its long sleeves up to her

elbows. Stepping into the skirt, she pulls it over the sweater and tugs up the hidden side zipper. She

chooses a pair of nude patent pumps and slips her feet into them.

One last check of her appearance reveals that her ears have yet to be adorned. Just as she's pushing

the other diamond and pearl teardrop earring into her ear, someone knocks on the bedroom door.

"Arden?" Inside the thick cedar of the walk-in, Arden can barely hear whoever it is. But that soft voice

can belong to only one person. "May I come in?"

"Of course, Diane. Come in." She smiles at Eli's mother as she opens the door for her. "I didn't mean to

keep everyone waiting. I was just on my way back downstairs."

"Don't worry about that, dear. That's not why I came up here." She waves away Arden's apology. "I

wanted to speak with you . . . alone."

"Oh." The sinking feeling that follows the sudden dip of a roller coaster upsets her stomach. She offers

her mother-in-law a seat on the Victorian chaise. "What's on your mind?"

They settle onto the pastel blue upholstery. Diane takes Arden's hands and opens her mouth to speak,

but then falls silent. Instead, she stares at her daughter-in-law with a faint smile on her face, seeming to

be lost somewhere else.

“Are you okay?”

"Oh, sweetheart, yes. I'm fine." Diane shakes her head and smiles. "I was just thinking how much you

look like you did on your wedding day. I’d never seen anyone more beautiful."

Arden glances down at herself, blushing at the compliment. ConTEent bel0ngs to Nôv(e)lD/rama(.)Org .

"Elliot was so nervous when he saw you." Diane reaches over to smooth a strand of Arden's hair, and

then she laughs. "Couldn't even recite his vows."

Ardi laughs along with her, remembering how tongue-tied he was. It took him almost ten minutes. But

he managed to communicate every word that he'd written to her.

One line in particular bubbles to the surface of her memory. He'd promised to appreciate her every day,

to always make time for her. She smirks to herself. Some promises sound better on paper.

"That was the luckiest day of my son's life. Our whole family got an angel."

She smiles faintly and thanks, Diane. "I don't know how true that is."

Grasping her hands tighter, Diane moves a bit closer to Arden. She gives her fingers a quick shake to

make Ardi meet her eyes.

"You saved their lives." The intensity in her tone shocks Arden. Her mother-in-law doesn't often speak

with so much force. "Sooner or later, Melinda would have destroyed him. Rowan and Teagan would

have lost their father, too. Neither of them would be here today without you."

"Eli could have managed as a single father." Ardi is sure her face must be flaming red through the

matte foundation she just applied. "You and John have always been a great support for him and the

kids."

"I know my boy." Diane shakes her head. "He's brilliant and caring. But he has a blind spot for the ones

he loves. It's so easy for him to be taken advantage of."

She doesn't object. Eli is a sweet soul who has a difficult time even uttering a curse word in front of her.

He just doesn't spend enough time at home. The man has to work. His absence bothers him just as

much as it does her. He shouldn't be penalized for his dedication. Then again, neither should she.

"He needs you." She caresses Arden's cheek. "You bring out that light in him. With you, he's a braver

version of himself."

"That's all him. He's a wonderful man. I don't ..."

"Arden … Even after everything you've been through today, there isn't an ounce of malice on your

tongue for Melinda." She shushes the younger woman. The worry lines that traverse Diane's pale skin

deepen, and age her soft features past their sixty-five years. "You’ve always considered the twins and

Elliott first."

Ardi bows her head. Part of the reason she's being so forgiving of others’ bad behavior today is the dirt

she’s tracked inside herself.

Diane continues to point out how selfless and sweet Arden is, failing to notice the slight tinge of guilt

casting a shadow over her brown eyes.

"The fact you're sitting here no doubt in pain, without complaint, and worried about everyone else. I

couldn’t love you more." Diane begins to sniffle and looks toward the window. She blinks hard before

turning to face Ardi again. "I don't know if I've ever said it. But … thank you."

Arden spends another few moments smiling down at their hands, trying to choke back the tears

brewing behind her lowered lashes. Leaning forward, she puts her arms around the woman's slender

shape. She inhales Diane's soft lavender scent and indulges in a distant memory as she lets it envelop

her.

"All right, enough tears. We'll both be a wilted mess if we keep this up." Diane reaches for a tissue from

the box on the side table and folds it into a neat triangle. Careful not to press too hard, she dabs at

Arden's eyes. "There. Gorgeous."

Diane stands and takes Ardi's hand again. The two women descend the stairs from the second floor,

speaking to each other in cheerful whispers like debutantes headed for the annual ball.