Chapter FIVE

 
Max laughed out loud and Roz joined in. Along the way the talked about their lives and what lead them to their meeting. It was interesting to Max to find out how much sadness Roz went through and how lonely she must have really felt to end up at a cougar party. He made mental note to talk to Diondre. For Roz it was interesting to find out that Max, owned the limousine company providing transportation for Diondre. She thought at first when he wanted to date her he was just looking for a woman who had money but technically speaking he had way more than she did. Maxwell not only owned limos, he own a fleet of over 400 vehicles including tour buses and local PSVs, providing VIP service all across Barbados, and several islands in the Caribbean. He also owned, three small hotels, four restaurants and a night club.

"Why did you pick me up tonight?"
 
"My designated driver for tonight, Rodney, had to take his daughter to the doctor, so I picked up the slack. It's a good thing too, if not we would not have met and I would not have had the best sex I can ever remember. Imagine what would have happened if he was driving."
 
"I hope his daughter is okay." Max smiled at her concerned for the girl.
 
“Me too she's a good kid, she and my son go to the same school. I have to remember to put in the log book his job was completed or he won't get paid."
 
"You would do that?"
 
"He is my best driver, no reckless driving, the children love him and the ladies tip him well. This job tonight would set him back $5000. He started with me when I only had one limo and he has never let me down."
 
"Wow, you really are something."
 
"Thanks, I try my best. Well it looks like we are at your building although I have a feeling you don't live here. Do you have a car here or would you like me to take you home?"
 
"It's okay, my car is here in the garage, you can go up with me to get my things and follow me home if you are worried."
 
"Yes I need to see you home safely, you owe me a real date."
 
"I see."
 
Roz got out and swiped her key card in the slot outside the door, she punched in the code and the door opened. They both went in and walked to the elevator. When the door opened Roz stepped in and pulled Max inside.
 
"Please Max."
 
"Roz........ I thought you had enough and I don't have any condoms with me."
"I have some in my room, I need you again."
 
"Jesus woman."
 
Max eased forward and pulled Roz's panty aside and slipped a finger inside her, she was too wet for any resistance.
 
"Hmmm Max, take me here please."
 
"No Roz, we need to protect ourselves."
 
Roz pulled away and fixed herself. Max stepped back and leaned against the elevator door, when it dinged open he almost fell outside. Roz ran past him and went to her room. She opened the door and headed for the bathroom, she took out some condoms and met Max locking the apartment door. Roz shoved him back against the door and kissed him.
 
Max held onto her and walked over to the sofa and eased them both down. Roz was hot, she was trying to get Max's pants zip undone. She managed to get it open and put her hand inside.
 
"Tell me you don't want this inside me Max, you are so big and hard right now. I need you please."
 
"You will get hurt again, when was the last time you had sex?"
"When I got pregnant with Brad, he is almost three, my husband stopped having sex with me, he said I wasn't tight enough after so many children. I didn't have the heart to tell him he was smaller than average.
 
"What an idiot."
 
"Did I feel the same way to you?"
 
"I'm not him, I don't have that issue, you were perfect, never doubt that." Max got his pants off in a hurry, he slid himself inside her and it was only when he felt her warmth envelope him, he realised what he had done.
 
"Roz, oh God, I'm sorry, I did not mean to do that."
When he looked down at her, her eyes were closed and she was trembling.
 
"Jesus Roz, let me get up."
 
"Please don't."
 
"Roz, I know how good this feels but we have to think of everyone involved in our lives."
 
Roz let him go and got up from the bed. She quickly put her clothes on and took up her bag. Her keys were next to Max's on the table, she took hers up and stood by the door. Max was still sitting on the bed.
 
"I'm leaving Max, you can lock the door on your way out."
 
"Why are you angry with me Rozario? I am trying to protect us both and you get attitude. This is why I don't want you to go back to the parties, people get carried away and things like that happen. I'm a grown man with two children and I just put myself inside a total stranger without any protection. Do you understand the ramifications of that?"
 
Max got up and went to the bathroom. Roz heard the pipe turn on and then off. Max came back out and dressed. He took his keys from the table, opened the door and left. Roz followed silently. When they got to the garage Max stopped.
 
"Where's your car?"
 
"The green one over there." She pressed the remote and the lock disengaged.
 
Max walked over to the car and opened the doors and checked inside. He waited for Roz to get in and start the engine. He walked to his while she followed. He got in and she passed him. Roz took off a top speed and Max was right behind her. In less than ten minutes she reached her house. She didn't even realise she knew the location of the hotel until Max spoke of it.
 
"You can't tell anyone where the hotel is."
"I know that. I'm sorry Max. I can't see you again."
"I was wrong about you Mrs. Weekes, you don't want love, care and attention, you just wanted a fuck, and well you got it. Have a good night."
 
Max walked back to his car and waited until Roz was safely inside her house. He didn't see the tears running down her face. He didn't see her wave goodbye and he surely didn't see her heart break.
 
Days went by, weeks went by and Roz was miserable. The children noticed it and began to ask questions.
 
"Momma are you okay?" Brad asked.
 
"I made a mistake with someone I just met and I upset him, now I don't think he wants to talk to me anymore."
 
"Do you love him momma?"
 
"No sweetie, we just met."
 
"But you loved me before I was born, why can't you love a person you just met, love has no time limits and if you think you can be happy with him, call him."
 
Roz stared at her son, he was definitely going to be someone more important than she could ever imagine.
 
"Oh you are such a wonderful child. I agree, love has no limits. How do you feel about me seeing someone who isn't your father?"
 
"Dad left us momma, he isn't worth our consideration, Mellani and I just want you to be happy."
 
Brad handed his mother her cell phone from his pocket.
 
Roz laughed and kissed her son on his head.
 
"Mellani honey what about you?"
 
"Do you think he will be a good father to us?"
 
"I do actually and he has two children as well, you will meet them eventually."
 
"Bring him over so we can scrutinise him thoroughly." Brad said.
 
"Oh Mellani what have you been teaching your brother?"
 
"He's a genius mom, he has you for a mother."
 
"Oh come here you two, I am so blessed. I love you both. Now let me call Max and make things right." The children hugged back their mother and left to go play.
 
Roz picked up the phone to dial Max's number and it was then it hit her, she didn't have it. She called Diondre at the number on the card she had picked up.
 
"Rozario, I'm so glad you called, I've been calling you since the night we met. What did you do to Max? You need to meet me. I will come and pick you up in half hour. Yes I know where you live."
 
Roz stared at her cell and flew into her bedroom to get a shower and dress in record time. It was a Saturday so the children's grandparents were coming to pick them up for the weekend. She had made sure she stayed in contact with them although their sons were no longer in her life. Jacinta was staying at her boyfriend's house as well but she wouldn't be leaving for another hour or so.
 
"Jinx can you watch the kids until their grandparents come to get them?"
 
"Sure Roz, Will is running late anyway. Have a good day."
 
"Thanks, you too."
 
"Kids, I'm going to find Max, you have a great weekend, and I love you both."
 
"Love you too momma." They both chimed.
 
Roz sat on her front porch and waited anxiously. A Mercedes Benz pulled up and when the window rolled down, it was Diondre.
 
"Come on girl, we don't have all day."
 
Roz smiled and got into the car.
 
"I have met some powerful women in my life but whatever you did to Max, he is not happy."
 
"Can I trust you not to tell anyone about this?"
 
"You forget what I do for a living, I have more to lose than you do. Spill."
 
"Max is a wonderful man, I had the best sex I ever experienced in my life and he did something he shouldn't have done. He apologised and I got angry. He followed me to my house and that was it. My own children told me to go after him. How is this possible Diondre? One night of extreme passion can turn someone's world upside so much I feel like my heart was ripped out and fed through a meat grinder.
"Would you believe Max feels the same way? He came into my office and almost cried. He was so hurt. I have never seen Maxwell in pieces, he is the one who usually lends me his shoulder. He forgot to pick up a client, got drunk one night and got into a fight, I had to go bail him out from the station. You fix this Roz. I always told Max he wasn't cut out to live the loose life and when I saw you I knew you were special and I put the money you paid into a charity. Max is meeting me for lunch or so he thinks. You two need to talk. I booked a room so you can have some privacy since you are both well known."
 
"Why are you doing this?"
 
"Max is my brother. In all our years growing up, no woman has managed to do this to him, not even his wife. I know you will work this out cause I can see how miserable you are as well. Here we are. Everything is paid for, I expect to hear wedding bells in 6 months."

"Thank you Diondre, this means a lot."
 
She reached over and hugged her new friend. She got out and went into the restaurant. She had chosen a peach halter dress with her favourite Crocs and she brushed her hair up into a bun.
 
She saw Max sitting in the corner staring into his drink. She walked over and sat down opposite him.
 
"Hi Max." She whispered in a hesitant and soft voice.
 
"What are you doing here?" He didn't even look up."
 
"How do you know who it is, you haven’t even look up."
 
"You are wearing Sunflower by Elizabeth Arden, the scent is still on my bracelet. I saw the anklet, and I can see the ring on your right hand. I have had those breasts in my mouth and that body wrapped around mine. I know who it is alright. Answer me."
 
"I miss you Max, I'm sorry things went so awful after having such a wonderful time. It took my two children to make me try to find you. I can try to explain how you made me feel that night if you let me." She reached out to touch his hand and he pulled away.
 
"Say what you need to and leave."
"So you hate me now? If that's the case I won't even try to fix this."
"I don't hate you Rozario, I fell in love with you when you got into my car. I fell even more in love when my loving sister texted me and told me she was going to call me and just go along with what she was saying. I fell even deeper when we kissed, when I made you came in my mouth and definitely when you begged for me to make you mine. It was my name you screamed through your orgasm. Mine. You can't possibly understand me, since you have no desire to get to know me."
 
"Oh Max what have I done? I sat and thought about that night and you were right, we should have been more careful and I was wrong to get upset with you but you made me feel dirty or that you classed me with those other women. After what we shared I was so confused about what I needed from life and you were not just a fuck. I have never felt like that. I need you to forgive me. Even if we never see each other again, know that I love you and I am so glad I had the chance to feel like that."
 
Max slowly looked up.
 
"What did you just say?"
 
"Which part?"
 
"About you loving me."
 
"It was my son who opened my eyes. I told him we had just met and I couldn't love you already. He told me I loved him before I had him and love has no limits. A child Max, he made me see how wrong I was. Yes Max I do love you."
 
Max got up, grabbed Roz's hand and on the way out spoke to the Host and hustled out the door. He walked quickly to his SUV unlocked and opened the passenger door for Roz.
 
She got in without a word and buckled up. She knew wherever they were going they would get there quickly. She was right but it wasn't what she expected. He took her to his house.
 
"Max?"
"Be quiet."
 
He got out and opened her door. She got out and stepped aside as he closed it back. He took her hand and led her up the few steps. She could hear laughter in the house. The she heard
"Daddy's home!"
In a matter of minutes of Max opening the front door, two screaming children ran towards him and tackled him to the floor. Roz stood in awe.
 
"Um guys, we have company."
 
The two children who were just so excited made a quick change. Their faces were now serious. They got up from off their father and stood staring at Roz.
 
"Guys, say hello to Rozario Weekes."
 
"Hello Rozario Weekes." They both said at the same time. Then something wonderful happened.
 
"Are you the one who made my daddy sad?"
"Yes sweetie and I am trying to make up for it if he will have me."
"Are you sorry you made him sad?"
"Very sorry, I don't like when your daddy is sad."
"Okay well that's good enough for me. Are you going to be our new mom?"
"Okay you little pip squeak enough with the questions. Go play."
 
Eight year old Grace, ran up to Roz and hugged her quickly and left. The older child Jeff, said nothing at first but when Max gave him the look. He stuck out his hand to Roz and when she took it he spoke.
 
"You are the first woman Dad has ever brought home, I hope you know that makes you family now so don't mess it up."
 
"I will try my best not to and if I do, I will try to fix it."
"Well we can't ask for more can we?"
"Neither can I, it was nice meeting you."
 
Jeff walked away and winked at his father.
 
"Oh Max they are precious. Are you sure about this?"
"We love each other Roz, we will sit and talk about everything we can think of before we think about bringing our families together. It will work out you will see."
"Okay Max, I trust you. Are you free, this weekend, the children are gone ‘til Sunday evening."
"So are these lot, what would you like to do?"
"Sit and talk."
"We can do that. Guys, get in here."
 
Footsteps bounded through the house.
 
"Yes Dad."
 
"Roz and I are going out for a while, tell Mondi I will be back in a few hours and you know how to reach me."
"Okay dad, bye new mommy." Grace yelled as she ran away. Jeff just shook his head and laughed on his way behind her.
 
"Oh dear, if I don't marry you they will have my head on a platter and so will my sister."
 
"Max........."
 
"One step at a time honey. Come on let's go, we can go back and get lunch, I don't think the owner minds that we ran out without paying."
 
"You know the owner?"
 
"Diondre. She doesn't tell anyone though."
 
"I have to thank her for helping us out."
 
"Yeah she was gunning for me to get back into the dating game for a while now."
 
They got into the SUV and made their way back to the restaurant. When the host saw them he commented that they both looked better. He showed them their booth and said everything was on the house.
 
"I need to tell you something Roz."
 
"What love?"
 
"I wanted to continue."
"When?
 
"When I was inside you. I wanted to forget you were a stranger. The rush I got was too much for me. I didn't think you were dirty, never that but I couldn't get past how my wife died."
 
Roz could see the pain written on his face. She waited until he was ready to continue.
 
"I thought she loved me but it was only on her death bed she confessed she never did and she only had the children because it's what I wanted. We couldn't have children normally so I paid for In-Vitro with both children. I have never had unprotected sex with anyone including her. I always thought she would change her mind and let me feel her just once but what I didn't know was that all throughout our marriage she was seeing other men. She would go out and say she was with her girlfriends and come back in the early morning. I never thought to tell her she had a responsibility to our children to be at home with them so when business picked up I stayed with them more so they would have at least one stable parent. That's why whenever my driver needs time off or he has an emergency, I take his shift and make sure he gets paid. Many times I had to rush home with the children or take them to doctor visits. I couldn't afford a babysitter yet so I took care of them myself, lots of times they slept at the office and dressed for school from there the next morning. When they were older I branched out into other businesses to keep money coming in and Donna spent whatever she could. One morning she came home drunk and it's a good thing the children had left for school. We got into a fight and she had dropped her bag when I grabbed her. There were condoms inside. I asked her if she was cheating and she confessed. I let her go and threw up in the bathroom. When I came back out she had fallen and hit her head on the table. I rushed her to the hospital and it was then I found out she had AIDS. She got it after Grace was born thank goodness. When she died I felt nothing. The children cried for a little while and then they just moved on without her. They don't even ask about her anymore."
 
"Oh Max, I'm so sorry, I understand now and I agree, we should be more careful next time."
 
"I asked Diondre to check up on you and she said you were clean. I am too, I get checked at least twice a year even though I haven’t been with anyone like that other than you."
 
"Okay we will cross that bridge when we come to it."
 
They talked and ate lunch and time flew by quickly. It was around 3 when they left the restaurant.
 
Max took Roz with him to check up on some work and when they guys at the limo service saw her, they whistled and cat called. Roz was a bit embarrassed especially when Max took her hand and walked next to her. He introduced her to some of the drivers as his girlfriend.