Precious Stones by Darrien Lee

I’ll be there in fifteen minutes. What do you have a taste for?”
    â€œIt doesn’t matter to me, but I am leaning toward Caribbean food. I haven’t had that in a while.”
    She smiled and said, “Caribbean it is. I’ll see you shortly.”
    About fifteen minutes later, Keilah arrived home and changed into a pair of jeans, a casual top, a leather jacket, and boots. Before leaving with her brother, she looked in on Neariah, who was taking a nap, and had a short conversation with Camille about their dinner menu. When she joined Malachi in the driveway, she tossed him the keys to her Land Rover, and they drove off to an appetizing lunch.
    At the restaurant Keilah chose arroz con camarones, shrimp with yellow rice, which was served with beans and a salad. Malachi ordered a burrito cubano, a burrito filled with roast pork, sofrito, beans, and cheese, and served with rice, beans, and a salad. Keilah enjoy her afternoon with her brother. After treating him to lunch, they stopped by a local market to purchase a few items for Thanksgiving. Malachi had been a big help getting everything ready for Thanksgiving, and she apologized to him for overreacting to his unannounced arrival. Now she couldn’t wait to see the rest of her family.
    It had been a fun-filled day with her brother, but she was tired now and ready to crash. Once they returned home, she headed upstairs, started her bath, and went into the bedroom to get her slippers. As she made her way back into the bathroom, her cell phone rang. She didn’t recognize the number, so she answered it.
    â€œHello?”
    â€œKeilah, it’s Trenton. Don’t hang up. We need to talk.”
    Stunned, she sat down on the side of the bed without speaking for a moment. Once she gathered her senses, she said, “We have nothing to talk about, and how did you get my number?”
    â€œThat’s not important right now. What is important is that I can’t get you out of my head. I know you’re married, but I have to see you. You have to still have feelings for me. We almost got married, for God’s sake.”
    Angry, Keilah said, “You know what, Trenton? I did love you at one time, but now all I feel for you is disgust. Feelings of disgust that you would have the nerve to approach me like you did on the plane. I told you I was happily married, so please, just leave me alone.”
    â€œThe only shame I have is that I let you get away from me. I’m not afraid to fight for you, Keilah. You mean that much to me.”
    â€œThe best advice I can give you is to lose my number and forget we ever ran into each other. Do you understand where I’m coming from?”
    Trenton held the telephone in silence for a moment, and then, before hanging up, he said, “I’m sorry, but I can’t let go. Not yet, so what happens, happens. Good-bye, Keilah.”
    She hung up the telephone, not understanding what Trenton meant or where his head was. It was her hope that this was the last time she would hear from him, but she couldn’t be sure. She didn’t want to ruin Thanksgiving, but on the flip side she didn’t want to keep secrets from Ramsey, either. She returned to the bathroom, and to the hot bath awaiting her, so she could think about her next move.

Chapter Five
    It was two days before Thanksgiving, and Luke and his family had arrived, and so had Ramsey’s parents, Valeria and Marion, and Ramsey’s aunt Judy. Since Camille had been given time off to spend time with her own family for the holidays, Malachi had stepped in to help around the house, which included watching over Neariah while the Stones went to work. Sabrinia went straight to the kitchen when she arrived, with Valeria and Aunt Judy right behind her. She wanted to prepare as much food as possible ahead of time so she would have the opportunity to enjoy the holiday. It helped that Keilah had a refrigerator that was capable of storing large