A PURPLE DESIRE

MAN IN THE FAMILY

Frank leaned her against the shower wall. They were breathless, and her legs slowly slid down from his hips to touch the tile floor. He shut off the shower, grabbed a towel from the heated rack, and gave it to Lea. After that, Lea took a step to walk out of the shower first.

"Wait"

Lea came to a halt, her gaze fixated on him. With a gentle motion, Frank stooped down and effortlessly scooped her up, cradling her in his embrace as he walked. "You don't have to do this, let me down!"

But Frank never mind her, slowly, he lowered her onto the soft mattress of the bed and tenderly tucked the sheet over their bodies, ensuring their warmth and comfort. Lea frowned but she knows Frank will not be disturbing her from now on. She let him enveloped her in his arms, creating a sense of security and tranquility, and together they drifted into a peaceful sleep.

The following morning, Frank woke up feeling better than he had in a long time. He could see out the bedroom suite window that it was still raining. He held Lea's warm body in his arms. In the first meeting, he knew Andrei was his son, the little boy looked just like him. He was still reeling from that knowledge. He wanted to know how Lea had ended up with another man. Now that he had a son. Though there was much that Lea needed to explain, he knew he wouldn't trust her to be honest. He would have to learn to deal with her deceit and make sure she never cheated on him again. From those deep thoughts of him, he quietly got out of bed and pulled the comforter around his sleeping wife, then walked into the bathroom to shower and shave.

Frank dressed in casual clothes, made his way through the living room to the kitchen, where he found Andrei sitting at a table with Anne, having breakfast. Andrei saw him and scooted off his chair, running into Frank's outstretched arms.

"Papa, Nanay Anne said you are always busy for work. Are you ok?"

"Yes, I am. But... I did it for you. I have to work to earn money, so that I can buy many toys." Frank hugged the little boy, vowing to himself that he would make Lea pay for keeping his son away from him.

"Thank you papa for buying me these things, I love my toys, I'm happy that you are already here with me."

"Be a good boy to your mom" a lively word from a father to his son.

"Papa, I want to play outside, can you play with me?"

Frank put Andrei back in his seat. Anne asked him if he wanted coffee and perhaps a sandwich.

"Anything that is available now, and ready to eat" Frank said and sat at the table next to Andrei.

Anne and Frank spoke in Bisaya dialect. She told him how she and her husband had made when they first married thirty seven years ago. They had no more family in Quezon, and they had no children. When her husband passed away, she stayed in Novaliches, Quezon city. Lea as her sister in law, she treated her like her own daughter, especially now that she had Andrei as her grandson.

"Good morning.."

Lea came out from the master bedroom wearing in a white pinky dress and barefoot, her hair loose streaming down her back in silky curls, and her face glowing. Frank turned as Andrei ran into his mother's arms.

"Good morning, my darling. Did you sleep well?"

"Yes, Mama. Look, the rain, can I go play? Please... Mama..."

Lea smiled at him and ruffled his mop of black curls. "You have to get dressed first. Let's see what your father has planned for today."

Lea poured a cup of coffee. "Andrei, have you had your milk yet?"

Her son nodded and said, "Now can I go play?"

Lea smiled. She picked a chicken sandwich from the pastry basket, placed it on a plate, and took a seat across from Andrei. Anne sat next to Andrei, and Frank was at the head of the table, a plate with a half-eaten roll from his breakfast and a cup of creamy milk mix with a little pure black coffee in front of him. Lea took a bite of her sandwich, then another.

Andrei chatted to the three adults. Frank answered his questions as best he could, not really knowing much about Iron Man or Spider-Man.

The ringing of Frank's cell phone interrupted their conversation. He glanced at the screen and said to Lea and Anne "Excuse me"

Frank left the table in a while then he turned back after he ended the call. "I tried to renovate the penthouse last year, and my men called me that it is not ready yet."

Andrei's head came up from the electronic tablet he held. "Another house!"

"Why don't we wash your hands and brush your teeth, then we can put on one of your new outfits and go down to the park," Anne said.

Andrei turned on his belly, sliding down the seat cushion, until his feet touched the floor, and scooted out of his chair, running toward his bedroom. Anna smiled and followed him.

Lea sat at the table, staring into her coffee cup. Frank thought of last night and how he felt that she'd held something back. Was she thinking of all the other men? Frank's jaw muscle tensed, and his lips thinned. He wouldn't let her think of anything but him ever again.

Lea, though deep in her own thoughts, that Frank is currently watching at her. The anxiety she felt about what lay ahead with him was overwhelming. She had reluctantly accepted the idea of marriage only because he had used Andrei as leverage. Initially, she had envisioned a marriage devoid of physical intimacy, but the events of the previous night shattered that illusion. As she quietly sipped her coffee, Frank's presence across from her was a constant reminder of the control he held over her. She made a conscious decision to bury her past emotions and rely on her animosity towards Frank to propel her forward.

Last night Frank made love to Lea and in those moments, she'd abandoned her body to him. He had haunted her dreams not one day had gone by when she didn't think of him or ache for him. Deep down, she kept a part of herself from him. She couldn't forget the past, no matter how much she bent to his will. Her body may respond, but her heart was frozen.

Lea mentally shook herself, but the memories flooded in, and she couldn't stop them washing over her. Five years ago now, Frank, the handsome man at the table with her now, had destroyed her life, along with her love for him.

Even now, she sat at the same table with Frank. She shared his bed and was married to him, all for Andrei, the baby he hadn't wanted. He had no right to be angry with her, he'd sent her away. Now, five years later, he's changed his mind? just like that?
A voice that played in Lea's head laughed at her.

Andrei ran into the kitchen with Anne close behind. "Mama, Papa, can I go play? I'm ready now."

He didn't wait for an answer but in his excitement, he ran and kissed his mother. He turned toward Frank and hesitated. Frank bent and picked him up, gave him a kiss on his chubby cheek, and told him to obey Anne.

Once the door closed with Anne and Andrei going out to play in the park, Frank rose and stand next to Lea's chair. He smoothed a curl and black silky hair behind her ear.

Lea moved her head. But Frank ignored that. "I'm sorry we can't have a proper honeymoon"

Lea glanced up. "A honeymoon? It is not necessary."

"It is, Lea. You see... you have to make me forget your deceit."

Lea look at her empty plate. "Sad to say, that you are obvious for being too blind to see that I've never been dishonest with you."

Frank drew her from the chair, then Lea stood in front of him and turned away.
"So, that is how it is going to be."

Frank pulled the slip knot on the satin belt of her robe while she remained unmoving. He put a finger under her chin, lifting her head.

"No." Lea said.

But Frank descended swiftly, seizing her lips to silence any further words before pulling her lifeless form into his embrace. She remained still, her hands limp at her sides, her mouth firmly closed against him. Releasing her lips, he firmly grasped the lapels of her robe with both hands, pulling the fabric apart to reveal her naked skin.

The intensity of Frank gaze made his body feel like it was on fire, while Lea visibly shivered under his scrutiny, refusing to meet his eyes.