Deborah Fletcher Mello - Twelve Days of Pleasure

Kendrick moved to lay the baby down and Vanessa suddenly jumped back to her feet.

“Wait!” she snapped. She moved to the diaper bag and pulled a blanket from inside. She laid it down across the bed top. “She might catch something if you put her on that bedspread,” she said, her face twisted with distaste.

Kendrick smiled as he laid the child on the oversize, pastel-colored receiving blanket. As he stood back up, Vanessa looked satisfied. She moved back to her seat. Before either could say anything else Kendrick’s cell phone chimed.

Chapter 3

Vanessa’s reaction to the no-tell motel had been expected. He stood watching as she bit down against her bottom lip, her eyes taking in every strand of dust and dirt that marked the space. When something bug-like scurried across the floor her eyes widened, following it as it disappeared beneath the dresser. Her head waved slightly as she wrapped her arms around her body, hugging herself tightly. He was impressed that she hadn’t gone screaming from the room. He thanked the man on the other end of the phone and ended his call. He met the look she was giving him.

“Really, we’re not staying,” Kendrick repeated, a slight smile pulling at his full lips.

“Then why are we here?” she asked again.

“I can’t explain just yet,” he said.

She nodded but said nothing.

“If you needed to let your family know you were okay, who would you call?” Kendrick asked.

“My mother.”

He nodded. “Use the motel phone and call your mother. Don’t tell her where you are, just let her know you’re okay and that you’ll give her another call soon.”

“I can speak to my mother?”

He nodded, gesturing toward the motel room’s phone. “Just keep it short and sweet, please,” he said.

Vanessa moved to the side of the bed and reached for the receiver. Before dialing the long-distance call she grabbed a tissue from the box on the nightstand, wiped down the mouth-and earpiece and then pulled it to her head.

Kendrick chuckled ever so softly.

Joy painted her expression as she dialed, and Kendrick heard the device finally ringing on the other end. But the excitement on her face diminished quickly. Obviously, there was no answer and she must have reached her mother’s voice mail instead. She took a deep breath and left a quick message. “Hi, Mama! It’s me, Vanessa. I just wanted you to know that I’m okay. I’m with...” She hesitated as she tossed him a quick look. “I’m with a friend right now and I will call you back as soon as I’m able. I love you, Mama!”

As she hung up the receiver she looked as if she were struggling not to burst into tears. Sensing her distress Kendrick moved to her side. “Are you okay?” he questioned as she lifted her gaze to his.

“Do I look like I’m okay?” she hissed behind clenched teeth.

He grinned, holding his hands up as if surrendering. “Sorry,” he said softly as she pushed past him, moving back to her seat.

Gabi shifted against the bed, rolling onto her side as she pulled her legs to her chest. She curled her body into a fetal position. Kendrick and Vanessa stopped to watch her, both holding their breaths that she wouldn’t suddenly wake up. The little girl deeply inhaled and then snored ever so softly. Eyes wide, their gazes shifted back toward each other and held the stare. Kendrick found himself smiling and unable to contain herself, Vanessa smiled with him.

She shook her head. “This won’t last too much longer,” she whispered. “You better enjoy it while you can.”

Kendrick nodded. “I need you to unpack some of your things. Hang something on those racks over there. Leave your toiletry bag, a pair of shoes, whatever. We’ll replace them later. And most of the baby’s things, too. Leave a few diapers on the bathroom counter. Maybe a bottle. It needs to look like you were here and you’re planning on coming back,” he said as he moved to the second bed and pulled back the covers.

He pulled a second phone from his pocket and dialed. “We should be there in the next two hours,” he said into the receiver.

“I needed to make sure we didn’t pick up a tail,” he was saying. He paused to listen before speaking again. “I’ll contact you when we get to our final destination,” he responded. He took a deep breath, his gaze meeting hers as Vanessa stared at him.

He ended the call without further comment, dropping his cell phone against the pillow. “Just pack some bare necessities for the two of you in that small bag. We’re going to leave the rest,” he said as he moved to the bathroom and turned on the water faucet.

Minutes later he moved back into the room dressed in a pair of black denim jeans, black Timberlands and a bright white V-necked T-shirt. He then moved to the television, adjusting the volume just loud enough for others to know it was on.

Vanessa’s expression was incredulous but she didn’t bother to question him. When she had done as he’d asked, he scooped Gabi back into his arms and they left. Vanessa was headed in the direction of the car when Kendrick stopped her. “This way,” he said. “We’re taking the bus.”

Vanessa hesitated, her eyes blinking rapidly as she stood staring at him. “The bus?”

Kendrick nodded. “What? Haven’t you ever ridden a bus before?”

* * *

By the time they reached their final destination Vanessa was exhausted. The bus ride, with two transfers, had landed them in front of a taxi stand. A taxi ride later they were at a private hangar at the airport. The private plane was more to Vanessa’s liking, and she’d even been able to catch her own nap while Kendrick entertained Gabi, who seemed to be enamored with the buckles on the seat belts.

“Where are we?” Vanessa asked when they finally landed, a team of technicians pushing the plane into another private hangar.

“Everything’s going to be fine,” Kendrick said.

She clutched Gabi a little tighter to her chest. “That’s not what I asked you,” she snapped.

Kendrick met her stare.

“Eat, eat!” Gabi suddenly exclaimed as she pulled a thumb into her mouth. “Eat, eat!’

Vanessa shook her head. “What was I thinking? She is so off schedule. It’s well past her lunchtime and I don’t have anything else left in this bag. She’s hungry and I need to get her something to eat.”

Kendrick smiled again and Vanessa, despite her reservations, found herself instantly comforted by the gesture. He tickled a finger beneath the folds of Gabi’s chin. “We need to get you something to eat, baby girl!”

He pulled a cell phone to his ear, depressing the speed dial. Vanessa could tell by the change in his tone that he was talking to a woman. The thought suddenly irritated her. How dare he call some other woman when he was supposed to be focused on her? She felt herself stiffen with resentment. He caught her staring and tossed her another smile, oblivious to her sudden stress. Then he turned and walked toward the other side of the room, moving himself out of earshot. “Really, I need to get her something to eat,” she persisted when he finally moved back to her side.

“I know,” he said. “And probably a diaper or two, as well. It’s being handled. But right now we really need to go.”

Annoyed, Vanessa heaved a heavy sigh. “You still haven’t told me where we are.”

“New Orleans,” Kendrick said.

“We’re hiding in New Orleans? Really?” Her tone was just sarcastic enough to imply that he didn’t have a clue what he was doing.

Kendrick laughed.

“No, we’re just making a pit stop. We need to pick up some supplies.”

Vanessa’s gaze narrowed. “I thought you were taking me to some safe house. Why do we need to pick up supplies? I’d think the house would already have them.”