The Canary (Completed)

Chapter 2

Chapter 2

***

KenLeigh woke up the next morning to a painful throbbing in her lip and cheek. She got out of bed and walked to the mirror of her vanity, gasping in horror at her reflection. Her lip was considerably swollen and a deep bruise covered the skin on her cheekbone. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, gently prodding the bruise with her fingertips. The pain shot through her face, making her suck air through her teeth. She had no idea how she was going to explain her injuries to her son.

KenLeigh heard Adamu waking from his slumber and turned in time to catch a glimpse of his commanding figure walking into the master en-suite. Even at forty-eight, the six-foot, two-inch-tall man was still in good shape. KenLeigh was still physically attracted to him and couldn't understand the reason for his insecurity, attributing it to a possible mid-life crisis. She brushed the thought off and sat on the bed, trying to think of a story to tell her son.

When Adamu exited the en-suite, his eyes settled on KenLeigh's face. The couple stared at each other in silence, before KenLeigh stood and wrapped a satin robe around her body. She walked to the door to leave the bedroom but stopped when Adamu spoke to her.

"Where are you going?" he asked, walking up behind her and gently resting his hands on her shoulders.

"To make breakfast," she answered, tensing under his touch.

"Breakfast can wait," he replied, massaging her shoulders and peppering light kisses on her neck.

"Damu-"

"KenLeigh, I want to make love to you," he said, untying the robe and slowly pulling it away from her body.

KenLeigh finally gave in and turned to face her husband. She flinched slightly when he reached out and began to examine the bruise on her cheek.

"I'm sorry. I never meant to hurt you like this, and I promise it won't happen again."

KenLeigh nodded her head as her tears began to fall once more. She wanted to believe that Adamu was telling her the truth. After all, he was her husband of eighteen years and the only man she had ever been intimate with. He was all she knew, and there was nothing more that she wanted than for her marriage to last.

***

Adamu pulled KenLeigh into his arms and began to soothingly rub her back. He held her close until her tears had finally subsided, then led her to the bed. Just as she was settling on the pillows that were propped against the headboard, his cell phone rang.

"It's the hospital," Adamu announced, before answering the call.

His conversation lasted for just a few minutes before he was up and dressing himself, preparing to perform emergency surgery on an adolescent patient whom he'd previously treated. KenLeigh felt the relief set in when he kissed her "goodbye."

"Do not tell Dakarai what happened. I don't want him to worry."

"I'll tell him I fell."

"Good. I'll be back as soon as possible," he said, kissing her again and walking out of the room.

Before leaving for the hospital, he stopped by his son's bedroom, giving him strict instructions that his mother was resting and was not to be bothered. Dakarai acknowledged him with a "yes, sir," and continued listening to his music. Adamu closed the bedroom door and left the house.

***

As soon as KenLeigh closed her eyes and attempted to fall back to sleep, visions of last night's events plagued her. She started to cry once more. Her soft cries drew her son's attention to the master suite's bedroom door.