II Hands in Tahiti

Whatever Happens

December 27th 1994

The tree's waved a cool embrace towards the greetings of the wind. Mina and Alonso went away to Thailand for the holidays. A year had gone by since Mina last set eyes on Michael. As the fresh air pecked against her cheeks. She latched onto Alonso tightly remembering the intense moment between her and Michael. Her face rested against his leather coat and even though they were fleeting through foreign land, it felt like they had been surrounded by a region of emptiness. A cloud of collision and confusion.

They were arriving at their next location. Alonso had secret plans for Mina this afternoon. They headed to the high mountains. When they arrived they hiked into one of the ancient caves very sacred to the region and civilians there. The water in the area was said to be blessed and made to add abundance and longevity to one's life. "Let me put this on you", Alonso reached for the blindfold in his pocket and placed it over her eyes. He bent his arm in between hers and strayed his walks nice and slow so that she could cautiously follow him. "Where are we going?" Her words poked out the opening of her lips. "Don't worry about it i'll let you know when to stop."

Once they arrived closer he removed the blindfold from her eyes. Her sight set on her surroundings. They were now standing inside the possessions underwater deeper in the cave. A variety of water animals surrounded them as they stood still. Alonso bowed a bended knee and grabbed her left hand. His fingers shaped to hers and his head rested below her navel. "Mina, the past year with you has been more than any man could ever ask for. You breathe life into me. You renew me. You're my ultimate high, i'm never down when I'm with you. It feels like God opened up heaven's gates and granted us blessings in agreement of our union. To cut my long speech short I say all this to say that I can't go another day without you being my wife. I want forever with you. Will you marry me?" His head angled her lowered face. In the present moment, she was flowing with emotions. For some reason she didn't think Alonso would propose so soon. It shouldn't have come as a surprise though since this wasn't their first go around.

Now, her body was stuck in a loophole of thoughts. "You don't have to say no, or yes right now. I know I made it seem like this was one of our regular getaways but I just had to do it here" He rose to a standing position. Looking deeply into her eyes, reading her thoughts of anxiousness. But in the same predicament his calmness soothed her and now she was more relaxed and open to his proposal. He could feel it too. His fingers rose in the air to motion a snap and on cue a man appeared with his saxophone playing "When 2 R In Love" by Prince. He clapped his fingers and fireworks spelled out several lines of words that sparked in the air. She faced the location of words and read them internally.

"Will You Marry Me?

"Be Mrs. Mina RIviera!"

"Say Yes"

"Yes Alonso, I'll marry you." He placed the ring with a belting honor along her finger. She kissed and hugged him warmly. Her ears were covered by her hands trying to sound out the loud fireworks shooting above. He picked her up with joy and they spent the rest of the day laying in their enclosed room that was also in another part of the cave. They held each other the entire day and into the night at times gazing up at the marine life that greeted them through the glass surrounding them.

"I don't want to rush you but I just can't risk losing you again. You're my scripture. The source that fuels me day in and day out." Mina laid on top of his chest, submitting her ears to his words. Mirroring in the moment that was cowriting through her spirit. She weighed in the formalities of their relationship. It was somewhat traditionally modern. Mina wasn't a big eater and Alonso was rarely home. She understood that things were different now compared to the years of the past. He was building his businesses from the ground up and although he's been able to fund a boat load of workers. It was important for him to be hands on in his endeavors at all times.

Children were totally out of the picture for them. A recent deal breaker they've been trying to pass over. Alonso felt that children would just interrupt all the plans he had in line for his brand.  Everything was lavishly falling in line and his fortune was accumulating by the boatload. It's something Mina tried to brush over but she knew there was more to it. She felt it deep within her gut but she decided to drop it for another day. The room service workers came in to serve them drinks and candied treats forcing her out of her thoughts. She moved her internal questioning to the back of her mind and refocused on the current realm.

March 30th, 1994

On his way to work Alonso mixed up some relevant papers and without his knowledge a few were exposed on the table. It wasn't long after that Mina was rushing out of the main bedroom to place her set of heels on her feet. She had an important meeting today and couldn't miss it. As she set her eyes on the compiled papers her eyes widened. It was Alonso's test results. Her eyes circled in on the paperwork. She was shocked as she read the compilation of words on top of the medical services they were suggesting him to attend. Her stomach went from having a sharp pinch to a tight knot and shortly after her legs went numb. Her mind rebranded her body back into reality. Now was not the moment for long trances or trying to solve a lesson of mystery. The fact of the matter was he lied to her and hid it.

As she drove to work she looked at her watch. She couldn't be late and usually she was never tardy but on this day this would be the very first time. Babyface liked people to be punctual because he preferred to keep things brief and to the point. It was very important to him since he, too, was a busy man always on the road. "I have a couple film projects coming up. We may be nominated, or we may not. So keep in mind that the next few months at the label will be hectic. Get in early and leave late. We have deadlines for albums and award shows. Let's get to it" He clapped his hands and threw a smile that was so rich that it filled out the room.

During her lunch break Mina decided to phone her mother Sassandra to catch up briefly on her recent trip to Bali that she's been raving about.

"I really don't see why you have to choose. If it were me, I'd split my time between Michael and Alonso. Alonso is the kind of man you keep in the house as decor but Michael is the kind of man that you can really let loose with. I know all about his type."

Sassandra stopped talking to make sure her french manicure was being filed to her liking. Wednesday was her day that her manicurist had time in her schedule to do home visits. It wasn't cheap, the Diallo family resided in Queens but money was never something they worried about. The family owned several hospitals throughout New York City. It also helped a lot that they constantly used their resources to fund programs for inner city children.

"It's not that. Well I'll always love Michael but I'm starting life with someone else now." She spoke to her mother solemnly. "Little girl you're not foolin' no one but yourself and you know it. I've had my few share of lovers in my lifetime and I know how it feels to try and move on from someone you love so deeply. It's your life and your choice so I won't give you any lectures this time. But I gotta go. I actually have lunch with Michael soon. I'll send him your greetings." Sassandra cackled as she hung up the phone. Mina placed the phone down, not even trying to overthink the last comment. Oddly enough she felt slightly nauseated. She rested her forehead on her arms and rocked back and forth in her seat. She pushed through the rest of her day speedily getting things on her agenda done. There was dread still boiling within her from this morning but her mind told her to allow the truth to unfurl on its own.