Close your heart to every love but mine; hold no one in your arms but me. Love is as strong as death itself. It burst into flame and burns like a raging fire.
Song Of Songs 8:6
Jabari looks at his watch; it is 9:15 am. His patience is slowly changing to anxiety. Then, a small stream of college students comes out of the building. Jabari finally spots Zora by her beaded, braided hair.
"Zora," he cries out to her.
When she hears her name, she looks around and sees Jabari.
"Hey Jabari," Zora cries!
They give each other an embrace.
"How was your day," he asks?
"Ok. How was yours," Zora asks?
"Busy. I have been running all over this city to get your surprise ready."
"Really? It must be a BIG surprise."
"ZZ, you have no idea."
The two friends start their journey towards the bus. They sit side by side, amongst one another, but not to themselves.
Zora and Jabari are swimming in their thoughts. Jabari's views are the hopes of a close friend, accepting his special gift, openly and graciously. Zora's thought dwells on the mysterious surprise that awaits her. The feeling of not knowing the contents of this strange surprise makes Zora somewhat anxious. However, Zora remains patient. When the bus arrives at their destination, he asks Zora to close her eyes.
"Close my eyes," Zora asks?
"Please. I want you to be surprised …but not too surprising that you have the baby," Jabari said.
"Boy, you are crazy."
With her eyes closed, she is guided by Jabari. Zora has no clue of her surprise or where she is going. Her heart is racing, her pulse is racing.
'Lord…if you can hear me, please do NOT allow me to vomit. I know, I am probably passing that stage but grant me that wish,' Zora thought.
With her eyes closed and with Jabari assisting her, Zora climbs up the steps, goes through the doors, and boards the elevator. They walk down the hall and into a room.
"Ok, stop," Jabari requested, "We are here."
"Now, can I open my eyes?"
"Ok…NOW!"
When she opens her eyes, she sees Fabiola, Isaac, January, and Hyacinth.
"SURPRISE," they shout!!!!!
"Oh, my goodness! What is this," Zora asks?
"It's your wedding day…well…more like our wedding day," Jabari says as he held her hand.
"I…I don't believe it…We're getting married! Wait. I'm not dressed properly."
"Well, sweetheart," January starts, "we could not do all that, BUT we were able to get them something new, something borrowed, something old, and something blue."
Hyacinth makes a crown of white roses and lilies of the Nile for Zora's head, which is the "something blue." Fabiola gives Zora her fuchsia rhinestone bracelet, which is the "something borrowed." January gives her a rosary made of Austrian Crystal Beads, which is "something new." There is nothing old to provide Zora with, but she remembers, her father left her a pair of gold earrings, which she is already wearing. That is her something old. It is not long before the court clerk calls for the Grant-Montague party. Everyone is excited and anxious, especially Zora and Jabari.
"Nena, are you ok," Fabiola asks?
"I don't know if it's nerves or the baby, but…"
"…Z.Z., you going to fine. I'll tell the guard to leave to garbage can next to you, in case it is the baby."
"You're always looking out for me, girl."
They hug each other.
"Well, …here goes nothing," said Jabari.
"More like here goes something," replied Zora.
Everyone is called into the courtroom where one of the marriage officiants with the marriage bureau performed the ceremony.
As the ceremony progresses, Jabari wonders, 'I'm getting married. Wow! I can't believe I'm going through this.'
Jabari looks at Zora, who is just as nervous as he.
'I'm doing this for the right reason. I love Zora. She deserves the best, she and her baby. I wonder how long this will last. What will the future hold for us?'
Meanwhile, Zora thinks to herself, 'I'm getting married. I still can't believe this is happening. Too bad, Jabari is not Anton…but Jabari loves me and I love him. He's such a good friend.'
When the ceremony is over, everyone cheers for the newly married couple. Zora and Jabari look at each other and laugh. Instead of giving each other a traditional kiss, they give each other a warm hug. They are now officially a married couple.
Valentine crosses the street with the bustling stream of people in haste; she is very excited because she knows this is the first step to her husband, making it easy to run the bar. She has a "Help Wanted" Ad for a local paper called "The Shout!"; she and her husband decides to look for a manager for their bar. Valentine walks through the spinning doors into the lobby of the building with haste. The hall, itself, is vast with giant, marble pillars and a giant crystal chandelier that hung gracefully from the ceiling like the brightest star in orbit. Valentine walks to the desk and sees the receptionist.
"Good morning, ma'am," the receptionist greeted, "What can I do for you?"
"Good morning. I have come to place an Ad in "The Shout!" for my bar. What floor would be?"
"The Shout" is on the seventeenth floor. First, I need you to sign in the log."
Valentine signs her signature into the log. When she is done, the receptionist guides the elevators down the hall to the right. When one of the bins arrives on the ground floor, the bell rings as the sliding elevator door opened. She boards the elevator and presses the seventeenth floor. When Valentine comes on the floor, she looks to her left. Then, she seems to her right. There, she sees a vast sign entitled "The Shout!" written in big, bold letters on the glass door. The office has a doorbell. When Valentine rings the buzzer, a buzz abruptly follows, indicating the door is open. When she opens the door, Valentine walks into a seating area with a receptionist window.
'Good grief,' Valentine thinks to herself, 'Another receptionist window?'
She approaches the receptionist's window and explains to the secretary that she wants to place a "Help Wanted" Ad for a manager at her bar. The receptionist requests that she should have a seat in the waiting room for the Assistant Editor-In-Chief so that they can discuss the matter in further detail.
Later on that day, Valentine stops at the bar to give her husband the good news. She bypasses Isham and makes a bee-line to Christopher's office, which is located in the back of the bar. Meanwhile, as always, Christopher works diligently in his office until he heard wrapping on his door.
"Yeah! Who's there," Christopher ask?
"It's me," Valentine replies from the other side of the door.
"Me who?"
"Your Valentine."
He rises from his desk to answer the door.
"My Valentine? Sorry Miss, but I have one Valentine, and she happens to be my wife," Christopher says.
Christopher opens the door and greets his wife with a smile.
When she opens the door, Valentine replies, "That better be the only Valentine in your life."
The couple greets each other with a soft kiss on the lips.
"How is everything, my love?"
"Great! I put in a "Help Wanted" Ad in "The Shout!" this morning.
"That's my baby! Always on the ball."
Christopher walks back to his desk and continues with his work.
"…Honey….," Valentine starts.
"Yeah, Val…"
"…I know we agreed on putting in an Ad for a manager for the bar…"
"…yeah…"
"…I think you should consider Isham for the job. At least, give him an interview."
Christopher stops in the middle of his work once again; he takes a deep breath.
"I would love to make Isham Mejia manager of Newkirk's, but…his performance has been questionable. He arrives late for work or does not come at all. He takes lunch breaks for more than an hour. The bottom line…he's unreliable. I think…."
"You think…what?"
"I think he is in some serious trouble, and he does not want to tell me."
"Maybe I can talk to him."
"Val, I don't think that is such a good idea for you to confront him."
"What do you mean? Chris, Isham is my friend too."
"I understand that sweetheart, but…he has…well…he has gotten very mean."
"Mean?"
"Yeah…he becomes so mean….that he looks inhuman. So…I…I leave him alone."
"Baby, I know we are all friends, but we also have a business to run, and I will NOT allow anyone to run our business to the ground."
"I agree 100%...so…what are we going to do?"
"I don't know what we are going to do, but what I want to do is confront him."
"How?"
"I will lend a hand here."
"Val, we agreed that you----"
"----I know the agreement, but we are in desperate times."
"Hey! What about Johan Howard?"
"The busboy?"
"Yeah!"
"Christopher, we don't have time to teach him to bartend. I'll come in to give you a helping hand at the bar."
"I hope Ish doesn't take offense to that."
"Why would he? I am your partner."
"True…but I still want to get a manager for Newkirk's."
"Absolutely," Valentine agreed, locking the door.
Christopher is bewildered.
"Why are you locking the door," he asked.
"I need a few minutes to…satisfy my man," she replied, walking seductively towards her husband.
As she walks around his desk, he pushes away from his office, giving her space and access. Valentine bends over to give him a passionate kiss on the lips. It is so intense, she leaves traces of her lipstick on his lips. Valentine then slowly falls to her knees. Christopher knows what was in store for him; he becomes more relaxed in his chair. Valentine seductively rubs her hands between his legs. The sensual touch of his wife's hands begins to awaken his manhood, which is still imprisoned in his pants. Christopher lets out a sigh of ecstasy as his cock grows and grows. She loosens his belt and pants like it was a present. Valentine then pulls out his perfectly erected dick. She holds it in her hand with a firm grip. What a sight. The head is soft and pink; the shaft is hard, thick, and veiny. Valentine's icy blue eyes look at her lover's dick like a piece of candy. Without hesitation, she gives it a taste. One taste is not enough for her. The wife licks and sucks repeatedly and uncontrollably. Meanwhile, the husband enjoys his wife, giving him oral pleasure; the pleasure is so great, Christopher slowly slides deep in his chair to get more of the feel. The sensation of his wife's soft lips around his manhood takes him to a world of sheer euphoric passion.
"Let me see those pretty eyes," Christopher requests his wife.
Valentine does precisely what her husband requests, still giving her lover oral pleasure.
"Yes," he said softly, "So beautiful, baby...oh yeah."
Christopher holds her long, dark hair in a ponytail with his hand as she continues to feast on his erect cock. He cannot take it anymore; he stands to his feet and begins to thrust his hips, forcing himself down her throat. Valentine takes it all down her throat and holds it for five seconds. The oral pleasure she gives to her husband changes into a "face fuck" he is giving to his wife. She does not complain; she loves the head of his cock, hitting her throat. He loves the sound of her gagging on his dick.
"Oh, you're gagging on my dick?"
Valentine only shakes her head as the string of spit drips from her mouth.
Like her husband, her hormones are at their peak, and she is hungry. As he feeds Valentine's pretty mouth with his dick, he can feel his climax rising.
"Get blessed…get blessed," Christopher says in ecstasy, "I'm cumming…I'm cumming…I…I…"
The husband lets out a cry in ecstasy, and his knees buckles. He releases his milky nectar into her mouth. With every release, Valentine swallows her husband's warm load. It is a taste of heaven, but she cannot get enough. She continues to lick the rest of his nectar from the tip of his head. Still feeling vulnerable from the climax, he surrenders to her soft lips on his head. Valentine stands to her feet and grabs her purse. She takes some napkins from the napkin dispenser from Christopher's desk and cleans herself and her husband.
"Did you enjoy yourself, sweetheart," Valentine ask fishing for her lipstick and compact mirror?
"As always," Christopher replies.
After applying a fresh coat of lacquer on her lips, Valentine says, "You know mama always delivers to her daddy."
"Is there room for seconds later?"
Valentine softly touches up her hair and gives him a coy smile.
"We'll see," she says.
She puts on her lipstick and compact back into her purse, fixes her clothes, and walks towards the door. When she unlocks the door, Valentine turns to her husband and blows a kiss. He pretends to catch her kiss in the air and eats it like a piece of fruit, licking the juices off of his fingers. She shakes her head and gives him a bright smile.
"I will see you when I get home."
Valentine finally leaves the office. Christopher slightly leans back on his desk. He looks down at his cock, which is still hanging freely out of his pants. He grabs on to it and smiles as he looks at the door.
Anton rode a black velveteen horse into the forest. The trees stood tall and proud; the sun gave off its bright rays through the leaves. As he rode down the path, Anton spotted a waterfall through the trees. The sound and sight of the falls were soothing…mesmerizing. However, it was not as mesmerizing as the curvaceously young woman, bathing in the water. Water and sun made her skin luster like the desert sands. Her braided hair was fashioned with countless beading. Anton could not see the young woman's face because she was facing the falls. However, judging by her hair, he automatically assumed it was Zora.
'Zora,' Anton thought, 'my soniye.'
He dismounted from his horse and tied the reins on a tree. Anton crept between the trees, which led to the clearing and the waterfall. He stood and watched the beauty adorn herself with the water. Softly biting his lip, he crept closer…and closer until the girl turned around. Anton was shocked.
"Nataline," Anton cried!
"Sweetheart! I'm so glad you came. Please, join me. The water is wonderful."
Anton was captivated by her natural beauty. When he was fully undressed, he joined Natline in the water.
"Wow. This is nice," Anton agreed.
"Guess what?"
"What?"
Nataline splashed water at Anton; he splashed water at her. The sequence continued until he grabbed her and kissed her. They were both shocked. Anton quickly released his grip on her.
"I…I am so sorry. I…I do not know what came over me."
Nataline put her finger to his lips and kissed Anton back. Soon, they engaged in a passionate kiss. He caressed her back, moving upward to her head. Anton gently pulled on the bronze beauty's long ebony braids, baring her neck and breasts. He ravaged her neck and played with her nipples with his tongue. The sensation drove her crazy. He then carried her out of the water and on the green grass. He gently put her down as he spread his shirt on the grass like a blanket. Nataline laid on the shirt, and he laid on top of her. Her legs spread wide open like two double doors, unfolding the delicate, pink petals of her flower. He pushed her back from her face and held his hands on her head. Her eyes were big and brown; her eyelashes fluttered like the Monarch Butterfly. Anton gave Nataline passionate kisses of her luscious lips, which she gladly reciprocated. He looked deep into her eyes. She was so breath-taking. Anton pressed her legs on Nataline's chest and planted his manhood inside of her. She let a cry so loud that it echoed throughout the forest, causing the birds to fly out from the trees. Nataline cried out with every pounding sensation from her lover. It was so warm and tight inside of her. The feeling was mind-blowing. He was so mesmerizing by the tightness of her flower, Anton did not stop. His mind was set on two things, the warmth of being inside her flower and her angelic sighs of pleasure. Without leaving her flower, he turned on her side and proceeded with the love-making. Nataline could not and did not want to put up a fight; he controlled her body. He pulled his manhood out of her and opened her legs to taste the sweet nectar of her pink petals. Anton feasted on this lustrous delight, like a wild animal. Licking. Spiting. Kissing. Sucking. Then he slowly made love to Nataline with one finger, then another. She let out a gasp.
"Relax, my sweetheart," he appeased her, "Relax."
He started slow, but then he went faster and faster. Nataline let out a cry as she released more of her nectar. He buried his face back into her flower.
"Get down on all fours," he told her.
She did as told. Her peach stood proud like two gold orbs. Anton spreads her fruit open, licking and tasting his slaver and her nectar. Anton proceeded to plant kisses on her peach and smacked it. He then planted his manhood back into her flower. The ebony-haired angel sang a note of pleasure when she felt him…all of him. With his hands on her waist, he rhythmically plunged insider her harder and faster. The rhythm was so intense, her breasts bounced playfully. Then, he held her hair back, using it as a reign. After getting his satisfaction, he plunged into her. It was so tiny, and he did not want to cause her any pain.
"Relax, baby. Relax," he whispered in her ear, hoping his sweet words and soothing voice, would tame her. It did, with a slight sting. Her hole was fully plugged up with his manhood. Nataline moans with pain and ecstasy. Anton proceeded to make love to her asshole; it was euphoric. Anton could not stop. He kept going…and going…and going until he let a cry, releasing his nectar inside her hole. The cry echoed throughout the forest…
Nataline leaps up from her bed, in a cold sweat, and breathing heavily.
"Anton," she exclaims.
Nataline does not know what to think of her dream. It seems so vivid; it looks so real. She pulls the covers off of her. She then hops out of bed and goes to the bathroom. She turns on the faucet and throws water on her face. Nataline then goes for a towel to dry her face. After patting her face dry, she stares at herself in the mirror, trying to make sense of her dream.
'Do I…fancy Anton,' Nataline thinks to herself?
After a while, Nataline slowly goes back to her room and sits on her bed. She sits holding her knees against her chest.
'I can't get this bloke out of my head…,' she thinks to herself, 'this is madness.'
Christopher and his staff are doing their usual prep work before opening the bar. Suddenly, there is a loud knock at the front door. Christopher goes to open the door. When he opens it, he is shocked to see the person standing in front of him.
"Hello. Hello. Hello," Isham greets.
"Ish…you're on time," Christopher says with shock.
"Yes, sir. Today is a brand new day," Isham says, taking off his coat, "No more bullshit. No more games."
"Well, damn! Either this is a miracle, or the Lord finally answered my prayers."
"No, Chris, I had a revelation."
"A revelation? What is the revelation? No. Don't tell me. You are back to your old reliable, responsible self, right?"
"Well, …that's part of it."
"What's the other part?"
"I am going to tell Orchid my true feelings."
"Really?"
"Yeah. I know…I know you think it is wrong to mix business with pleasure, but I promise you, we will keep it strictly business."
"Oh…."
"Where is she?"
"…Orchid is not here."
"Oh! Is Orchid running late?"
"No, Ish."
"She called in sick."
"No. Orchid did not call."
"Wh…what is wrong with her? Tell me."
"Orchid will not be here anymore."
"What???? YOU FIRED HER???? WHY????"
"Isham! I had no choice. She was…"
"Why, Chris? What did she do to you? Orchid was a sweet and beautiful woman, and she was an awesome waiter."
"I know, but…"
"…but what? She was what, Chris? A prostitute? A thief? What????"
"…she was a teenage runaway."
The news shoots Isham like a bullet through his heart. He slowly walks away from his friend and sits at the bar. Christopher follows him to the bar and sits next to him.
"Dude…I…I'm sorry," Christopher says apologetically, "I…know you liked her, but …she is way too young for you."
Still trying to get over the shock, Isham replies, "…yeah…tell me about it. For the record, how old is she?"
"Orchid was fifteen years old."
"Aww, man!"
"I am sorry, man."
"So…you're telling me that you fired Orchid, and she has nowhere to go?"
"No. Father Rector told me that he took her to the Saint Dymphna Counseling Center. Orchid is enrolled in the Inpatient Program."
"An Impatient program? You and Alex put her in an inpatient program because you think she is crazy?"
"No, Ish. We don't think she is crazy. However, according to Alex, she has undergone a lot of abuse from her parents."
"That's right," Isham says.
Isham takes a deep breath.
Isham then says, "That must be the reason she ran away from home."
"What?"
"She speaks about her parents. They…they did terrible things to her. She told me they used God as a weapon to punish her. Can they find her? Were they looking for Orchid?"
"No. In fact, according to Alex, Orchid's parents do not want to have anything to do with her."
"Good. Orchid's parents should stay away from her."
Isham balls his fist with anger. His eyes begin to water.
"Nobody can hurt her. Damn, I thought she was the one, man. I still think she is beautiful. Orchid is like delicate flower. I would have protected her and taken care of her. Orchid would have wanted for nothing in is the world. I can't believe she lied to me."
"She deceived all of us. Look at me! She could have put me in serious trouble with the law and forced me to shut down my bar."
"Orchid is a beautiful troublemaker."
"She is a beautiful lost soul, and she wants our forgiveness."
"I don't know, man. I loved Orchid. She broke my heart."
"Technically, Isham, she has no clue about your romantic feelings for her."
"Yes, but as my friend, she broke my heart."
"Dude, I understand, but Valentine explained that she is still a girl, looking for some kind of refuge. Ironically, she found it here…in a bar…with us. However, because Orchid was abused by people who were supposed to love her and protect her, Orchid felt she had to protect herself with a lie."
"Do you think I should go see her?"
"Sure. Val and I went the other day to visit. She asked about you."
"Really," Isham replied with a slight smile.
"Yeah, man."
Isham thinks about it, but he still has his reservations.