Chapter 8

Two weeks later

Revisiting the past--or mapping a promising future

There wasn’t a man or woman alive who didn’t have a regret.  Morpheus knew this firsthand, because Mikita was his regret.  She’d agreed to meet him at one of his favorite restaurants and the indoor garden view was spectacular, given that there was a virtual blizzard outside.  The Canadian winds and some other blasted jet stream had dipped lower than the meteorologist had forecasted.  For the past few days, a snowstorm roared across the eastern coastline, blanketing the Atlantic region with snow in Virginia and as far north as Maine.  The aroma of African violets filled the air, but his thoughts were on the beautiful brown woman seated across from him.  From the moment she’d arrived, the fragrant aroma of her perfume eclipsed every other floral scent.  He was a man in love and beyond hope.

Mikita stabbed her sea bass with a fork, then she nudged her plate towards the centerpiece.  The food wasn’t bad; for her, it was the company.  For the past seven years, she’d lived an extremely comfortable life in Colorado, away from Morpheus.  Now, here she was, seven years later, considering her ex’s suggestion to move back East, to Manhattan no less.  She still owned her condo here and over the years, the place had been used by friends or her family, whenever they visited the city.

“Mikita...”  Morpheus was charming her.  “When you moved away, taking my son with you...I didn’t get upset.”

“That’s gracious of you.  Given that I caught you in bed with my cousin.”

“Yes...that’s right.  But I never relinquished my parental rights.  He was my son, and my impetuous behavior didn’t change the fact that I was still his father.  I had legal rights.  I could have put my foot down, demanding that you bring my son back--but I didn’t.  I didn’t because--I deserved everything that came to me.”

“Morpheus...you are a man, haunted by your past.  So, let’s stop beating around the bush.  You wanted Bolden to accept a job offer, and if I move back here...my presence in the state would sweeten that deal.”

Morpheus smiled when he said...

“Yes...something like that.”

Nothing was that simple when it came to Morpheus.  Irritated by his conceitedness, she brandished her anger using her words...

“Something like that?  Not something like that....me moving back here is exactly what you want to happen.”

He put effort in his laugh, and Mikita felt her heart quicken.  Fuck--she still loved him, and she didn’t know what to do with those feelings.  She sighed heavily, when she said...

“I guess by now, you already know that Bolden accepted that job.”

“What makes you think that I already know this...?”

“Morpheus...please”  She stabbed his heart with her disgruntled impression of him.

“I’ve come to my senses Morpheus.  You mustn’t forget...once upon a time...I lived with you.  It was a long time ago...but, after attending your New Year’s Day party...I saw firsthand, that you haven’t changed.”

“Speaking of that party...”  the smile on his face loss some of its charm when he said...”You were with Cyrus.  Are you dating him?”

This was typical Morpheus and when she first received his call, she couldn’t believe how alluring his voice had sounded.  He’d told her that he had changed.  He had said that the time had come to put an end to old conflicts.  Fool that she’d been; Mikita had trusted him.

This time, when she looked at him, she was seeing him in the past; the way he’d appeared when she’d left with their son, taking only the clothes on their backs.

She said...

“You ever think about living a normal life?”

“Mikita...”  Morpheus pressed harder.  “Answer me...I need to know.  Are you dating Cyrus?”

“Did it ever occur to you that, I’m happy living my life away from you.”

“Mikita...”  His eyes held meaning, when he said... “Why won’t you answer me?  I don’t want to fight with you over this.  I just want to know.  I....Well, I’m sure you know how I feel when it comes to you.  Time may have passed--but my feelings remain the same”

Like a Jack-in-the-box, she surprised him when she said...

“So...you love me.  What about our son?  Do you love him?”

“Of course I do.  What would make you insinuate that I don’t love my own son.”

Her eyes narrowed, then she said...

“Eliza...that’s my reason.  Of all people....you stuck our son with Eliza Pendleton.  Really, Morpheus!”

Morpheus laughed.  Was Eliza to blame for the bug up her ass?  Sure she was; and more than likely Mikita had heard an earful concerning the rumors.  Whenever Morpheus took an interest in a woman, in one way or another, the rumor mills would say that the relationship had been a sexual one; and based on her reaction to Eliza, it would appear that Mikita believed the rumors.  He looked away to prevent her from seeing the humor in his eyes because Eliza wasn’t his type and he’d never made a move on her.  Morpheus defended himself when he said....

“Mikita...you’re overreacting.  I’ve talked to our son, and Bolden really likes Eliza.  Besides, until he learns the lay of the land...Eliza will see to it that he doesn’t cross the wrong people.”

“When you asked for my help, you never said anything about Eliza.  You told me that he’d be working for the governor.  Then you asked me to move back to New York; leading me to believe that Bolden would be working for the governor of New York.  Then I find out from Bolden that he wouldn’t be working in New York.  He enlightened me when he said that he’d be in Wyoming, working for Governor Wilcox.  But even that isn’t true...is it.”

Mikita was on a roll, and he’d noticed that her inflection had not been a question.  So he responded saying...

“Not a lie...just an omission.  In fact...i wouldn’t even call it that.  You know what Eliza does for a living.”

“Of course I do...and I’m sure that her last boyfriend knew what I know.”  she paused, then she said...

“I’m sure you heard the news reports detailing Tollin’s death.”

His eyes were dull, lacking any sign of a soul.  His choice of words wreaked of condescension.

“Mikita...I can understand your reason for concern...but, Eliza didn’t have any involvement in that.  Tollin was a loose cannon and I never got the impression that he was a stable man.  His desperation proves that point.  Tollin committed suicide; that’s what the city’s medical examiner said.”

Silence filled the room, and neither spoke to spoil the stillness.  Mikita sat straight and stiff, watching his hand reach across the table.  Her breath caught, when he enveloped her hand with his.  His warmth seared her, and she could still recall every emotion that had ever touched her heart while being in his presence.  It was all still there.  Every wonderful strike that had ever touched her heart.  It had always been Morpheus...and no one else.  Damn.  Why now, she thought, then her eyes filled with a vacant expression.  She didn’t know if this was a renewal of something fresh, or perhaps a warning, reminding her of the past.  She poured the notion into her guileless heart, reminding herself to be sensible.  If not for herself; then for Bolden’s sake.

Mikita pulled her hand away, loosening his hold.  She went through the motions, pretending that being with him had not affected her.  She recalled their conversation, then her thoughts latched hold to the idea that bothered Morpheus the most.

The pride in her voice, pricked at his manhood.

“Morpheus...I’m here because of our son.  You are responsible for him accepting that job...and it will be your responsibility to protect him.”

“He’s my son honey.  I love him--just as much as I love you.  As for me asking you to move back to New York--that was personal, and I made the request because I’d like to know what’s going on in your life.”