Broken (Endurance) (41 page)

"Put it on," Makayla demanded. "Let me help you."

Tamarius pulled out the bracelet and put the box aside, handing the bracelet to Makayla. She anxiously placed the bracelet on his wrist and admired it. "I don't know. I walked into the store and this one was calling to me. I couldn't ignore it, even after he told me the price." Makayla smiled, still looking down at the bracelet.

Tamarius pulled her close to him as he lay back on the bed. "It’s a great gift, but nothing compares to having you as my wife."

Makayla looked up in to his face. "Do you truly mean that?"

"Yes, I do."

Makayla smiled as she lay on his chest. Christmas was already opening to a great start for Makayla and Tamarius. 

Max and Mei were also having a great morning. Mei was still
admiring her gift of a fourteen-
carat diamond and white gold necklace with a matching bracelet.

Max was enjo
ying his canary yellow thirteen-
carat diamond necklace that Mei had surprised him with.

"I can't believe you got me this," Mei said.

"I can't believe you got me this."

"I'm glad you like it."

"I have another big gift for you downstairs. Let's get dressed. Winston should be waking us up soon," Max replied. He jumped out of bed and walked into his son's room.

Uriel was still asleep. Max leaned over his crib and gently rubbed his back until he quietly awoke. Uriel stretched in his crib as though enjoying the comfort of a plush mattress and comforters. "I know that crib in the hut must be uncomfortable," Max whispered to his son.

"Is he awake?" Mei asked, coming closer to Max.

"Just waking up. Babe, do you think we should take this crib back with us? He looks so

comfortable."

"Yeah, but he's two now. Maybe we should start looking into a toddler bed for him," Mei suggested, thinking of the next baby that was already on his way.

"I guess your right," Max agreed, running his fingers through his son’s soft locks. He stood up straight when Uriel began to sit up then stand in the crib.

"Momma... baby," Uriel said to his father.

"Yes, I know you’re Momma's baby. Is that who you want? Momma?" Max inquired as Mei began to tiptoe out of the room.

"No," Uriel answered, stretching out his arms for his dad to pick him up.

Max picked up his son and walked into Uriel's closet to dress him.

Mei was relieved that Max hadn’t understood what his son was trying to tell him. She went into the bathroom to shower and dress.

It was minutes to nine in the morning when Maxwell opened his eyes. He turned his head to see his beautiful wife still asleep. Today they would be getting ready to leave for their honeymoon. Maxwell had planned a seven day and seven nights stay at a private mansion his family owned in Aruba. It was a surprise for Cressida; a little getaway from the drama with her father and Blake. Their bags were already packed. They had planned to leave after Christmas dinner.

Maxwell loved having a full house and didn't want to miss a family gathering. He gently massaged Cressida's back as he coaxed her awake. She smiled at him as she opened her eyes. Maxwell got out of bed to take a shower and get ready to head down for Christmas breakfast. "Are you coming?" he yelled from the shower.

Cressida smiled as she got out of bed and joined him in the shower. They stood in the large shower stall with four elegant shower heads spraying them with relaxing warm water. Maxwell washed his wife's entire body, sensually lathering her with a luxurious and creamy body wash, and a soft wash cloth.

Cressida balanced herself by leaning on a wall as Maxwell washed her feet and legs, seductively moving up her thigh. He planted soft kisses along the inner thigh of her other leg then gently bit her stomach, causing her to giggle.  He stood and smiled down at her, leaning his muscular lean body against hers. He pulled her close and moved her hair aside as he began to wash her back, giving her a soothing massage in the process.

Cressida looked at him, her gaze begging him to make love to her, but Maxwell enjoyed the energy her body emitted. He could feel pulses of warm energy radiating off her as he pulled her head back by wrapping her wet tresses around his hand, exposing her slender neck to his kisses. Cressida groaned. Maxwell couldn't hold back any longer as he picked up his wife, wrapping her legs around him. They made love.

After their romantic shower, Maxwell watched Cressida as she stood in front the mirror fixing her clothes. As she straightened her top, he stepped behind her. Her eyes caught sight of something glittering in the sunlight and a smiled rose across her face. Maxwell placed a thirty-two carat diamond necklace, set in fourteen karat yellow gold, around her neck. After locking it he softly kissed her neck. "Merry Christmas."

"It's beautiful!" Cressida exclaimed, blushing. "I got you something."

Maxwell stepped back as Cressida rushed past him. She returned quickly with a box in her hands. Maxwell began to laugh. Cressida's excitement was contagious. "Here," she said, holding it for him to open.

Maxwell opened the box and his eyes lit up. "Cressida you didn't have to get me anything." Maxwell smiled.

"Do you like it?"

"You know my taste." Maxwell put on his fourteen-karat gold and fifteen-carat diamond watch. "And look at these cufflinks. Are those diamonds?"

"I sure hope so, or we got a problem." Cressida laughed.

"Come here. I love it. Thank You." Maxwell hugged his wife.

"I'm hungry. Do you think breakfast is ready?" Cressida asked, looking up into his face.

"Yeah. Let's get going," Maxwell replied, still smiling as he looked at his watch.

The Martinez family table was filled with delectable foods that would appeal to any appetite. Maxwell joyfully looked around the family table, happy to see how large his family had grown.

For once all the Martinez men were happy and content. Maxwell prayed a silent and sincere prayer from his heart praying his family would never fall apart; that the love everyone shared for each other would never be broken.

Lin laughed softly as she watched her great-grandson struggle to eat with chop sticks.

His mother laughed as he grabbed the chopsticks and shoved it into the French toast chunks she’d cut up for him. Max smiled at his family, enjoying the loving mother-son moment Mei was having.

Cressida and Makayla oohed over each other’s Christmas presents. Tamarius smiled at his brother, feeling his contentment

Winston entered the dining room, motioning to Tamarius that someone important was at the door. Tamarius looked over to his brother and then to Max and the three men quietly excused themselves. The women were too busy to notice them leave.

Three flatbed trucks were parked just outside the mansion, each carrying a different colored Bentley. This was the surprise the Martinez men had for their wives.

Max was eager to see Mei's reaction. He loved giving her surprises and this time he would be ready with his camera.

The trucks pulled into the circular driveway one at a time, carefully unloading each vehicle. The first truck pulled in and unloaded Mei's four door sedan, a custom painted candy apple red Bentley with Louie Vuitton interior and rims. Max eagerly signed all the necessary paper work and happily grabbed the keys.  He jumped in the car to feel it out.  Max moved it forward as the second and third truck delivered the other two custom designed Bentleys.

Cressida's Bentley was a dark royal purple with coach interior. Makayla's Bentley was a deep turquoise with Gucci interior. Each had custom designed rims that artfully displayed the Martinez family symbol. To the naked eye it looked like a beautifully artistic design, but upon closer inspection the triangle surrounded by a circle with a short prayer engraved around the border was visible.

They all stood back in amazement. "We should be bankrupt after this," Maxwell joked.

"We will need a second job if we keep spoiling them like this," Max added.

Tamarius and Maxwell looked over at Max. "You don't even have a first one!"

They all burst out laughing.

"Okay, I’m going to get my wife," Tamarius announced.

"Agreed." Maxwell followed.

Max stood there for one more second to take it all in.

"Makayla," Tamarius called, gently pulling his wife's chair away from the table.

"What are you doing?" Makayla smiled as she put her fork down.

Max walked over and secretly handed Tamarius a blindfold for Makayla.

"I am going to put this over your eyes." Tamarius placed the blindfold on her.

Makayla smiled as she heard Cressida and Mei complaining in the background. She wasn't alone.

The three Mrs. Martinez were led out to the driveway. Winston stood with a camera ready.  Beside him was Lin who had been wheeled out ahead of everyone by Anna.

Max led Mei with one hand and held his son with the other.

Maxwell cheerfully led Cressida to stand in front of her car as did Max and Tamarius.

Max quickly handed his son to Lin then stood behind his wife. Winston and Anna eagerly snapped away dozens of pictures. "What is going on?" Cressida asked, smiling.

Maxwell kissed the top of her head. "Okay," Maxwell yelled. "Is everyone ready?"

"On the count of three," Tamarius yelled.

"One, two, three!" Max shouted out.

They all pulled the blindfolds off of their wives’ eyes. Mei instantly started screaming and jumping around. Cressida doubled over, her hand covering her mouth. Tamarius heard the unmistakable sound of his wife's body hitting the ground. He quickly scrambled to sit her up as Winston ran over with a piece of paper to fan her.

Mei turned around, hugging and kissing Max, and screaming, "Thank you." She ran over to Cressida who was still trying to catch her breath while pacing back and forth.

"Cressida, do you like your Bentley?" Maxwell asked, laughing.

Mei leaned over to Cressida. "What the heck is a Bentley?"

Cressida just laughed and shook her head, hugging Mei. "God bless you. You are precious." She laughed.

Max approached Mei, laughing at his wife. "Mei Martinez, you don't know what a Bentley is?"

"Do now," Mei said, screaming and jumping into the car.  The last audible words Max heard from is wife was, "Louie!"

"But you know Louie." Max laughed to himself.

"Makayla!" Tamarius called, trying to hold in his laughter.

"What happened?" Makayla asked, puzzled as to how she’d fallen to the ground.

"You had an unfortunate accident," Tamarius joked.

"What?" Makayla asked, bewildered.

"You were pimp-slapped by a giant monkey." He laughed.

"Was his name Tamarius?" Makayla tried to get up.

Tamarius smiled and helped her up. "Okay, let's try this again." He turned her to face her car.

"Oh, my goodness. Babe, tell me I'm dreaming. This is crazy. I’m afraid to touch it," Makayla said, slowly walking over to her car.

Tamarius playfully took her hand. "Touch it," he joked, taking her index finger and pushing it towards the car.