Best Night Ever...The Aftermath

Part 20 - Take me Forever

I sipped the last of my latte and closed the file I was reviewing. "Alright guys, this could be our best year yet if we all just stay on top of it and keep working together. Good work everybody, meeting adjourned", I said with a laugh to my staff. "You have the briefing with Victoria's team in fifteen minutes, Jerry is going to meet you in Connecticut next week", my assistant said as we walked to my office. "Your flight is scheduled out in about three hours from LAX with about a seven hour flight time", she said. "Thanks Ashley. No offence, but I can't wait to get out of here for a few days", I told her. I wrapped up my last meeting as quickly as possible. Part of the reason was that the faster I got out of there, the faster I got to my vacation; but things between Tori and I were still shaky. While I understood she was just doing what she thought was her job in assisting Tommy to spy on Bruno and I, she was still going behind my back as her friend. I finished work and rushed up to my apartment to grab my carryon bag and jumped in my new Range Rover and drove to Bruno's place as planned.

We sat eating lunch on our private flight to Aruba, basking in the clouds sipping champagne. "So, cheers to the best boyfriend and best Christmas gift ever", I said raising my glass to Bruno's. "This trip is so needed, thank you baby", I said leaning over to kiss his soft lips. "We needed to get away", he said before nuzzling my neck. Boy was he right! It was almost February and we were just now going away for my Christmas trip because my work had been so demanding. I worked right through Christmas and New Year's and still couldn't quite shake the confrontation with my sister during Thanksgiving.

*Thanksgiving*

"Tell me what?" I said, walking in on my mother and sister's conversation. "Candy!" Carmen said in shock. "Tell me what Carmen?" I asked filling the chip bowl. "Look we can talk tomorrow, let's just enjoy the night ok", she said. "Oh my God Carmen, tell me what?" I said, raising my voice getting pissed. 'I mean you're already fucking my ex-husband so what more can there be', I thought. And then it hit me the only thing that could be worse. "You have got to be fucking kidding me! Are you pregnant?" I yelled getting in her face and got my confirmation when she wrapped her arms around her stomach. "Candice, step back", my mom said, sliding in between us. "You're fucking serious right now! You're having his fucking baby! I can't believe you!" I screamed. I didn't realize both my brother and Bruno were restraining me, and my mother was trying to calm Carmen down who had gone hysterical with tears. "Baby, calm down", Bruno said, stepping in front of me trying to get me to focus on him. "No! She's having his fucking baby and stands there crying like I should feel sorry", I screamed reaching around grabbing the bowl of chips launching it across the kitchen at her face. "Shit!" my brother yelled, grabbing my arms and pinning them down. "I'm fucking sorry, ok", Carmen screamed from behind my mother. "The hell you are!" I spat. "Cameron get her OUT of here", my mom yelled. I was pushed, pulled and dragged into the family room. "Let me go", I yelled. I was livid. I sat, shaking with anger while my brother tried to calm me down. "Candy, I know you're pissed, but you gotta calm down baby girl", my brother said. "Take some deep breaths Candy, breathe", Tiana said.

Not realizing I was hyperventilating and struggling to get my breath, I could only focus on how pissed I was. "Baby, breathe", Bruno said. "I clutched Bruno's hand, closing my eyes, taking some deep breaths, honing in on the sound of his voice. My Aunt Mary came in the room and handed me a glass of water. "Now we are gonna sit down and work this mess out", she said as I drank. "I don't have anything to say to her", I spat. I stood up getting ready to leave, not really knowing where I was going to go and my mom stormed in the room. "Sit down!" she yelled. "This has gone on long enough. Carmen, get your ass in here and sit down! I'm sick of this!" my mom screamed. The whole house fell silent as everyone filled the family room. Tiana's mom had taken my niece and nephew upstairs as to let the adults work out their issues. Tiana and I sat on the piano bench, Bruno stood behind me and Carmen took a seat across the room on the sofa, everyone else including Tiana's parents were scattered everywhere else in the room. "Now I know you're pissed and you're hurt, but I'm not gonna let you put your hands on your sister while she is carrying", my mom said to me. "I'm not gonna touch her", I said quietly. "Umm, you threw a damn bowl at my face", Carmen pouted. "You're lucky that's all it was", Tiana bitched. "I think you're forgetting whose sister she actually is Tiana", Carmen bitched. "No, I ain't forgot shit! You're lucky you're pregnant or I would kick your ass again, or have you forgotten", Tiana said. "Chill out T", Bruno said, laying his hand on her shoulder and I smirked. "Enough! Now you keep telling me you're sorry, tell it to your damn sister", my mom said to Carmen. "Ha! Please, she ain't sorry", I laughed. "I am sorry Candice. You think I ever meant to hurt you?" she said. "Well let's see, you're still fucking my ex-husband and now you've managed to get knocked up by him too. Yeah, I think it's safe to say you don't give a damn about me", I said. "That's not true", she fired back. "Bullshit! But hey, maybe now the Taylors will finally take you in and you're baby is sure to get a piece of the Taylor fortune", I said. "Shut up Candy, it was never about the money. Can't say the same for you though; I know about your little trust", she said. "Oh, it's not the money? Then what is it, because his dick game ain't THAT strong", I bitched. "Maybe not for you", she said. "Damn it Candy! We couldn't help falling in love", she said through tears. "Oh please, please don't give me that bullshit. If he loves you so much then why is he still trying to fuck me? Oh didn't know about that?" I teased after seeing the look of surprise on her face. "That's enough", my Aunt said. "No, let them go. They've been holding this shit in for too long, just let them go", my brother said.