BEING THE MAN IN THE MIDDLE

chapter seven

Tiana wipe the  tear from her eyes with the back of her hand shrugged at herself,  "maybe I'm over reacting" she though,  its been only a few hours since she hurry across the street make her way from Nate angry as hell their little love match didn't went well seems Nate was too powered up for her this time around,  she wonder what was on his mind was it her,  that other woman the one she saw the other day,  she cant help to think that woman look so familiar but could she tell from where she was,  she thought of the ring on Nate's finger it proved he's married but he wasn't speaking the truth up bold she asked multiple time already,  Tiana didn't want to think that woman is his wife,  she recalled the picture on the wall thinking she must be his wife,  wondering what happened between them,  or did he just distance himself to get his grove on,  she knew men often want other relationship other from the woman they are married to , aran was an example could she tell he would  be loving someone else, when she  thought she knew him so well, see shes getting with Nate who could have tell that would happen, she doesn't know  him much only that he's a guy name Nate which doesn't even have to be his right name and could be an alias,  he'll be thirty five soon she can't believe she's with a younger guy she can't believe she's with any one other from her husband,  how did he manage to seduced her! Tiana knew the answer to that,  he's such a handsome man sweet and sexy,  he's romantic,  she image him all over her thinking of him sinking into her,  a sharp burning sensation ran through her inner thighs,  reminded her of his agony few hours ago that left her with that cramp,  well thanks to that other woman in her husband's life he didn't haunt her for sex that much,  hopefully he never will,  she rest her hand on her tummy hoping it will go away soon,  her husband bike roars into the front yard and she tries to wipe away the trace of her tears but after crying so had she could feel the swelling of her eyes,  she never shed so much tears before not even when her husband beat her badly,  the sounds of Aran' s heavy footsteps echo as he comes in the kitchen, having the feeling he was hurrying to the kitchen to find food  Tiana knew he'd said he's not to come home to wait for food but he was extra early today, she  try her best not to look his way as  she could tell he came and  pause in the door way, he stop to look at her she tells that by feeling his eyes on her wondering if its in  admiration, she believes it to be more in anger for dinner wasn't ready, admire!"    she thought doesn't want to believe he does that anymore, didn't believe he does that anymore, didn't think he need given reason to anymore,  that was probably from they recently met,  sometime after getting married he stopped making love lost it's glamer, sweet loose it's taste  and it be came bitter, she was shaking with nervousness hoping he didn't heard she was by the house he warned her from Nate  that beaten the last time was because she didn't obey his commands but she does like Nate in spite the fact she is angry at him,  she wonder if by looking at her he could be able to tell she's having sex with another man,  that would give him reason to beat her badly maybe worst than before,  what if he came looking for ways to push her in bed it means she would be sexually involve with two men all in the same time, and to think of another hard slam for today her slim body can't stand to stand that, she  wonder if since he it here early he'll be mad for dinner isn't ready, he never usually came from work this early she thought, she suddenly  remember nate said earlier he and his friends jacked him in town black his cheek up,  she was sure he was going to  pick on him a lot in any case he came to feel threaten by him,  apart from giving tough love Nate was just innocent to her ,  she was so into him,  though she knew he's into someone else and married the ring signified marriage she's well sure of that,   tiana heard her husband clean his throat and her heart thrums real hard, 
from the corner of her eyes she watched him,  look to see him looking at her it seems he realized he turn and walk away,  she saw him  grab a beer from the counter, and could hear him rumbling through the snacks in the cupboard,   he was on his way out the kitchen grumbling to himself,  he  z closed the door by slamming it,  tiana jump and turn fully towards the door breathing a sigh of relief he walked out, 
He normally came home fussing
for his dinner,  maybe if he wasn't home this early she would get her self a knocking she hates it when he comes extra early,  but she figure he bought time from work to hang with his biker buddies just to beat up on nate,  she often saw him in town with them hanging out,   Tiana remember when her husband became part of the bike club he sold his car the only car he owned  for he felt he no longer need it,  he's been struggling with that old bike ever since eight years of it,  he did have a  truck he use at work other wise he didn't drive,  she hate that bike so much and seeing him on it even worst,  she knew he knows how much that bike irritates the hell out of her but didn't seems to mind,  it more to seems he enjoy her irrigation maybe it's his reason for beating her,  she has to be thankful to god he didn't let his bikers buds done it for him like they had just done to nate,  poor nate! She thought much as she was upset with him she still didn't want to see him get hurt,  she hope they didn't do it again,  for those men are big and strong together they will send nate into the hospital she could never stand to see them put him there,  she prays he won't get in their way again,
With all her thoughts tiana did her very best, she hurries and got finish with dinner dish a portion then took it for her husband, he was sitting  in the living room in his comfortable as usual position,  his legs place on the coffee table his back resting on his chair, since  he was already here she knew he won't care about waiting on the kids,   she went and rest the tray down on the coffee table next to his legs with out saying something or disturb him, he was watching  sports  he always watch sports the only time the television wasn't on the sports channels he wasn't home or the children get to watch family time,  the last time he got angry they couldn't watch it,  but he haven't said anything since,  tiana knew it wasn't because his heart becomes moist for since of late he build bricks around his heart he's hard hearted as a mountain, tiana had no idea she was resting  the tray down underneath his watchful eyes,
"What the hell happened to you...!? He ask as she was about to move away,  grabbing hold of her upper  arm doing so with a firm grip preventing her from moving away, his crip so tight her arm aches
"What are you saying Aran,  I', i' I've not  done anything..." She said nervously
He point a finger up towards her face and Tiana knew it must be because her eyes were swollen, funny he should notice that her eyes are swollen funny he should notice at all, he doesn't have the time, she couldn't think of a time since he started throwing, throwing blows at her
as if he's a heavyweight boxer and she his ring opponents,
You was crying why you eyes are that way"
She didn't think he cares she could walk away with out finding anything to tell him but if she did she might be just setting up for a beating, "I ha-ve a- tum-my ac...he...!, she said  trying never to seems nervous but wasn't it too late,  her words were trembling as they struggle to get pass her lips,
After saying that,  she felt his grip released she turn and started walking away,  he was still looking at her even on walking away she felt him looking  his eyes left  her skin burning she avoid turning around in order not to meet them hurry to close the kitchen door behind them, 
Tiana heard the kids comes in call to their father in the living room,  she listen to hear him reply but didn't hear him if he did it must be by a nod of his head,  but she was with the feeling hr didn't  he probably just look up from naughty eyes  as he usually does, 
"Mom! " both of them said tiana meet them half-way greetings  them with a hug hugged them both to her, 
"How  are you,  how was school?" She inquired
"School was fun" Niccane said with a grin
"Ah that's so good school has to be about fun sometimes right" tiana said rubbing her son's cheek,  he was still smiling  he was such a pleasant child cute and cuddle for his age,  she look and smile at her daughter but Rihanna saw her puffy eyes became concerned,  "did you and dad have another fight?" She question her mom,
"No!  Why did you ask?"
"It looks as though you been crying"
"Oh!"tiana said rubbing her eyes "I wasn't feeling good but I'm a little better now"
"Mom you're having  pain and cry aren't you the one who said ot to cry for pain yet still you do" rihanna said  as she retrieve the dishes from her mothers to set table, 
Tiana giggle  touching her hair,  "you are right but sometimes you can't help it"
Rihanna roll her eyes with a shrugged of her shoulders she find it hard understanding adult some of the time and decided not to try at all times,
She fix the table where she and her brother sat to eat tiana shortly joined them catching up from them their day activities,  which seems it wad really a fun-filled day,
"Mom I hope you can go along to the  library with me tomorrow" Rihanna said
"Sure I can soon as the laundry is done" they share smiles around the table then goes silence tiana got up after a while she clear the table for rihanna to do the dishes while Niccane went to get the dish from his dad.
They were still together  in the kitchen tiana could heard her husband voice talking on the phone,  not clearly to hear words,  on finishing in the kitchen she went to the living room with both kids he was no longer in the kitchen but he hasn't left for his bike was there once he got on it you could tell,  "go bath" she instructs the children who went into their room she too heads to her own room not to take a shower for the just took one earlier and in the morning she had one,  on entering the room Aran came from the bath room he was finish taking a shower and was drying his hair rubbing the towel over it he came to recognize tiana looking hard at her for a while he did so then she heard him giggle,  "you act to be such a baby,  crying over every little thing turning yourself ugly,  I once thought you to be the most beautiful woman I've ever seen but look at you now, I only pity you, you're such a stupid little bitch now"  he finish with a hiss turning his back on her tiana tries not to let her pride get bruise she knew now the type of monster she marry his words didn't hurt his fist did once he wasn't hitting on her he could use as many words to her,  he got dress as he was heading out the bed room he look at her Shook his head,  "don't wait up" he said slammed the door as he leave,  tiana fight with everything not to stead tears from his words she cried enough today already,
After family time that came on each evening  during the week at seven the children watch a movie,  since their father wasn't home and it's  the weekend,  tiana didn't allowed it to be later than ten for her daughter had to go to the library after the movie was over they went to bed, tiana watch them falls a sleep before going off to her room,
Nathaniel didn't feel like staying home much as he has a black and blue face he didn't let that stop him from going out,  he wasn't heading to the bar to see Cecilia just heading out to get out the house he came up and park his truck s long side the group of bike one he came to notice he figure tiana husband and his crew must be around some where,  he walk away to-day having the feeling now they think him to be a coward he walk in the bar and they were visible to him sitting at one corner of the bar he didn't know how they came to notice him but the one that has his cheek looking this way point the others in his direction he saw them got up but once Cecilia saw him and started coming over he saw them sat back down, 
he went to sit at the bar and was pour a shot of brandy,  being able to tell they watch him over there with out turning around he was on his second shot when one of the man came up dropped   two empty glass on the counter "my men and I are looking for a refill on you" he said  Nathaniel look up on the man then look over at the other he sat tiana husband with a smirk on his face as he lift an empty glass,  he notice the woman  sitting on his lap cuddle up to him,  she was grinning too like the rest of men, 
Nathaniel was here not looking for a fight as he wasn't looking for one earlier but got hit he didn't  want to fight an unnecessary fight not that he was worried about the size of the men and that he was out number by four he was worried if the damage he might cause he was train to kill like a hunter who shouts wild animals for meat or wild animals looking for a next meal he came here looking to keep  a low profile not to look for trouble he wish he had gone to stay with his mother or on his yacht but how would he have met tiana and  he is glad he met tiana,  he saw Cecilia look at him having fear in her eyes as she look from him to the man standing over him,  he saw her nod indicating that he pay for the drinks Nathaniel sigh got up and went in his pocket came out with a hundred dollar note he rest it on the counter hear the man grin Cecilia serve him the drinks ask that the other girl cover for her she came around  drag Nathaniel to the outside they were by his truck  when she speak "those guys aren't the type if guys you pick a fight with they'll hurt you"
He look at her in response
"They will, not to mention your landlord's husband and they got guns"
He knew they do but he got guns too and have all right to use it shoot to kill,  but he was walking  away tonight another time leaving them to think him a coward once again.
Much as tiana didn't want to be hurt by her husband's words she lay thinking about it, for in spite of it all she was married to him the vow they made to each other unrecognized now he's with someone  and she's hiding behind his back sleeping with her tenant to think she was so in love wit that now and was sure what she felt now is hatred and pity, pity for herself, pity for him,  it took her some time to fall a sleep as her thoughts went back on her husband words,
She woke up early Saturday morning to get the Landry done
She open the Landry door to the back gather her things to take to the line her very first glance was over by the house looking for Nate  his truck was park out there since it was early she figure he must be a sleep it was still early anyway,  by she got through the laundry clean the porch and was fixing tea the children come  to the kitchen she serve breakfast then took a shower the children then finish breakfast took a shower and got ready for the library,  as she was going  to leave out the door clover car came up she was with her children she too was seeing her daughter off to the library and luckily for tiana and her children she drove over to see if any of tiana's children have library work,
Tiana grin at her best friend as she sat in the car next to her "thanks for doing  this"
"No problem true friends do it all the time" they both grin,  while the children chat in the back clover and tiana did their own round of it,  clover  notice the swelling of her eyes inquiring about it tiana didn't gave her reasons for it until they sat together at a table in the library going through the acknowledgement and epilogue of romance novels,
"Go on tell me now,  you've been crying enough to swell your eyes"
"Nate and I made out yesterday" tiana said
Clover smile a wide smile "so ?"
"I want to think he lost control or he over reacted" tiana said with a frown
"Pretty boy go a bit hard on you" clover giggle "it happened sometimes" she said  grinning tiana shrugged at her "come on sex comes in different ways lighten up you'll  survive long enough to have it again"
Tiana side look her going back into the book,  much as she didn't  respond the smile on her face was visible to clover
In the afternoon they left the library and went to have pastry at the nearly pastry shop just fifteen minutes walk around the corner clover later drop them off stay a little while before heading home,  tiana fix dinner for the children having the feeling her husband won't come home today,  the children  later went out to have a little fun it was like this when ever their father didn't come home they get to play and enjoy their youthful life as long as they didn't have any thing to do they get to play tiana didn't stop them,   while they got through their play time tiana took her clothes off the line just as she was going in she notice nate who came to stand on the car port leaning to one side watching her she turn to look his way long enough to see him wave in which the children respond they went in as tiana was about to close the door she saw him going back in side,  after a shower they watch television read stories then it was off to bed,  
Nathaniel sat on the car port him and his pet his new best friend he now gave a name ratty he couldn't think of another pet name for a rat,  beside it's a rat,  he was thinking on tiana hard on tiana he knew she left  him angry yesterday but didn't  think she could still be angry for it was just out of control sex he didn't purposely hurt her,  what she have to understand is that sex comes  in different ways he could  only apologize and hope she for gives him once he did, he falls a sleep on tbe sofa dreaming of her woke up wanting her needing her restless for her, he might not have her again to the way she was angry when she left.
Sunday nate swing by his house to have a look around  he left and went to invited his mother out to dinner she was pretty excited to see her son and they were going for dinner  but she was worried  for him after seeing his cheek,  asked  about it and hearing what has caused it, 
"Come and stay with  me,  I don't want you to be out there on your own"