The Professor - Ch. 40.1

Baron quickly got his clothing back in order and headed for the door while Aurelia escaped into the bathroom to freshen up. Once the hotel employee was generously tipped and sent away, he knocked on the bathroom door.

“When you finish in there, take the meals next door while I freshen up and make a few more calls. Don’t feel bad about starting without me,” Baron said.

“Okayyy,” Aurelia teased, flinging the door open, looking fresher than ever.

Baron’s eyes bucked in amazement. If not for the sated look in her caramel pools, one wouldn’t have been able to tell that she’d just been ravished. There wasn’t even a hint of passion’s scent on her.

“Wow! You work fast,” he said, stepping aside to let her pass.

“It comes with the job.” She paused, looked back at him and amended with a smile, “Ex-job, that is, since I’m never going back to that particular occupation ever again.”

Baron smiled and nodded with approval. “Now that’s what a man likes to hear.”

Leaving him to handle his business in the master suite, Aurelia pushed the mobile breakfast cart next door to where her mother and son were. Emile and Trent were up and about by now, fully dressed as well.

After making sure her family had their meals, Aurelia settled down on the bed her mother occupied and proceeded to enjoy her own breakfast. Trent was sitting at the small desk on the east side of the room eating his meal and sneaking longing looks at the handheld video game beside him. Baron purchased that game for him yesterday. Trent had been playing it almost nonstop ever since.

“Ree-Ree, I’m worried ‘bout cha,” Emile said, speaking in a low tone as they sat side by side on the bed.

“Worried? Whatever for? I’m happier than I’ve ever been in my life,” Aurelia replied just as discreetly, looking puzzled by her mother’s statements.

“But is Baron happy? I heard no honeymoon sounds coming from dat room last night. None at all. Not even de slightest squeak of ah bed, just music,” Emile said. “I knew we should’ve stayed wid Gladys and Sam.” Regret shrouded her features.

Aurelia chuckled. “Mama, trust me, a lot of honeymooning went on in that bedroom last night,” she said, omitting what happened this morning. A few minutes ago, in fact. “We just didn’t use a noisy bed, that’s all. We kept the volume of our love turned down and the music turned up out of respect for you and Trent.”

Emile’s eyes brightened like the shining sun outside. “I see.” She grinned. “So den all is well?”

“All is great!” Aurelia replied, sharing her mother’s grin.

“What are you two cheesing about?” Baron asked good-naturedly, suddenly appearing in the doorway.

“About how thrilled I am to be your wife, dear husband,” Aurelia replied, beaming with happiness at the sight of him.

“Likewise, dear wife.” Baron gave her a secret smile.

Emile smiled at them both and relaxed all the more.

“Want me to get your breakfast for you?” Aurelia was ready to personally feed him that breakfast if he wanted her to. Especially after what he just did to her in the next bedroom.

“No, thanks, baby. I’ll get it,” Baron replied, moving to get his own meal where she’d left it covered up on the cart. “Good morning, Mama Emile,” he said, calling his mother-in-law by the name she requested, which was the same name that Trent referred to her by. “Good morning to you, too, Trent.’

“Morning,” Emile and Trent said in unison.

“Mama Emile, I will be needing your input about a few things today,” Baron said, uncovering his meal for full inspection. When everything met with his approval, he smiled.

“What tings?” Emile asked.

“Things like, what type of car do you want for Christmas. It is in a few days, you know.” Baron carried his tray of food to the bed opposite the two women and sat down.

Emile’s eyes bucked. “I…I gettin’ ah new car?” she stammered out, forgetting all about her meal.

Had her daughter really found a man this generous? Baron had already pledged to have the Bunting house renovated and to put Emile and Trent up in a temporary residence while the work was being done. Now he was about to buy her a new car?

“Yes.” Baron grinned. “We’ll take you to pick out the one you want today after we show you the temporary home that you and Trent will be staying in soon,” he said, before starting in on his meal.

“I already know you’re going to like the place we picked out, Mama,” Aurelia gushed, too excited to eat now. “It’s the same house that I used to dream about staying in as a child.”

Emile’s eyes bucked wider. “De one wid de cathedral ceilings, sea views, fruit trees, and is located close to de hospital and dat great park?”

“One and the same,” Aurelia replied. “Baron made an offer on it today so that we can actually make it a permanent place for us to reside when we’re on the island. I hope we get it.”

“I hope so, too.” Emile turned glossy eyes to her son-in-law. ”Tank you for making meh daughter so happy.”

“I want to make all of you happy, Mama Emile,” Baron replied. “Which is why we’re also going to hire Trent a private tutor as well as sign him up for some sports teams when he is physically able,” he added, keeping his secret promise to his stepson.

“Yay!” Trent shouted from across the room.

The adults laughed at that reaction. Only Baron knew why the lad was really cheering so hard – sports teams = access to girls!

Emile secretly sighed in relief as she returned to her meal. Finally her grandson was going to get a real teacher. Because she barely passed high school, she never thought she was the best person to educate Trent. Although Aurelia called often to help with school assignments and homework over the phone, Emile was still overwhelmed by the whole process. Now just like that, the problem was solved.

“As for any clothing that you and Trent might need, Aurelia has all the necessary credit cards to take care of that later today while I meet with a local contractor about all the repairs you said the Bunting house needed.”

Emile’s eyes grew glossy again. “Tanks ah heap.”

“You’re welcome a heap.” Baron smiled affectionately at her. “You and Trent are my family now. Since I was raised to always take care of family, this is really the least I could do to make sure you guys are provided for before and after we return to the states.”

Then he told Emile about yet another way he intended to take care of them, namely by obtaining independent health and life insurance for her and Trent. As his spouse, Aurelia would naturally go on Baron’s policies at work and the multi-purpose group policy that all of the Weavers enjoyed as a family.

Emile found herself literally tongue-tied by his generosity. She honestly didn’t know what to say as happy tears filled her eyes again. Before Emile could say anything, Aurelia spoke up in a rather sharp tone.

© 2009 by Mi’Chelle Dodson/Suprina Frazier