Mouths Don't Speak by Katia D. Ulysse

Author:Katia D. Ulysse
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: ebook, book
Publisher: Akashic Books
Published: 2017-12-08T00:00:00+00:00

TWELVE

Six days remained before Kevin and Jacqueline would have to face the inevitable. During the first seventy-two hours, Jacqueline touched him seductively, as she had not done in years. He held her as tightly as he could without squeezing the breath out of her. He covered the length of her body with lingering kisses. They indulged in the kind of lovemaking they had perfected before Kevin's three tours, believing each time could be their last.

They laughed the way they used to before he flew to the deadly desert. They laughed at his fear of visiting Haiti. They laughed at the dangers of the world—perceived and otherwise. In the mornings they ate breakfast together, a ritual that had ended long ago. They huddled close together, singing "Under the Sea."

* * *

The evening before their departure, Amber opened her arms as far apart as they could go. "I love you this much," she said. The words left her parents breathless.

Jacqueline's heart swelled with hope: he would come to Haiti with them. He would protect her against those little poison darts shooting out of Annette's mouth. Leyla would be there too, and everything would be perfect. But at dinner, she pretended not to notice how slowly and painfully he chewed his food. His eyes were angry slits.

"We're leaving in the morning," she said. "You can still join us if you wish."

He kept on chewing slowly, too slowly. He did not respond.

"Will you at least drive us to the airport in the morning?"

"Can't do that," he said, staring at his plate. "I have an early meeting."

"Since when do you have to be at work at three thirty in the morning?"

He shrugged his shoulders.

"We'll take a cab," Jacqueline said.

* * *

At precisely 3:30 the following morning, the taxi announced its arrival with an explosion from its horn. Kevin held Amber in his arms, not wanting to let go.

"Why can't Daddy come with us?"

"Yes, Daddy, why can't you come with us?" Jacqueline asked in a child's voice. "There's still time. It won't take you more than five minutes to throw a few things in a bag and come with us. You served your country very well. I am sure the airline would welcome this opportunity to let you ride in their little plane for a couple of hours." Her voice rang with a mixture of desperation and sarcasm.

Kevin addressed Amber: "Daddy has to work, but I'll see you in a few days. When you come back, we'll get the biggest ice cream cone in the world, with lots of sprinkles on it."

"Ice cream with lots of sprinkles!" Amber giggled.

"How about Mommy?" Jacqueline murmured. "What will I get?"

"Mommy is a grown woman who needs to make up her mind about what she wants," Kevin said. "Let's hope, for Mommy's sake, she makes up her mind soon." He made sure Amber faced away from Jacqueline, then mouthed the words, Fuck you.

"Let's go," Jacqueline said. When she reached for Amber, Kevin opened the door and went out into the hallway.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.