Under the Cypress Moon (5 page)

"Very, but not even half as beautiful as you are."

Shylah could not help but blush deeply.  Mark was displaying his generally sweet nature.  It was a breath of fresh air, fresher than the air being sucked in through the open truck window.

"Mark, you are too sweet for your own good."

"I just call it like I see it, Shylah."

"Well, you might have to stop it... or don't.  I don't know."  Shylah couldn't help but lose herself in uncontrollable laughter.  For almost exactly a day, Mark had had some strange and mystical power over Shylah's entire being.

"You know," Shylah began.  "I always thought you were handsome."

"Really," Mark asked, dubious of Shylah's words.

"Truth, God's honest truth.  I used to think that you were one of the best lookin' men I'd ever seen in my whole life.  When you and T.L. were in high school, and I was still in junior high, I had a bit of a crush."

"You did not," Mark snapped back, laughing hard in order to cover his disbelief and shy uneasiness.

"I swear.  I thought you were so handsome that it was hard to be around you.  I guess that all kind of just faded away eventually, but there for a long time, you were the man of my dreams... well, you and
Denzel Washington."

"Denzel Washington, huh," Mark asked, a little bit relieved at taking some of the pressure off of himself.

"Yep," Shylah shot back.  "I was going to be Mrs. Denzel Washington if you didn't get to me first."

"Oh, so if I'd asked you to marry me back then, you would've said yes, huh?"

"I probably would've," Shylah replied, laughing even more than usual.  The whole idea of it, though funny, was closer to the truth than the jokiness of it allowed.

"Well, I guess there's always today then," Mark shot back.

"Today?  You're gonna propose to me today.  We're on our first date, and you're gonna propose?"

"First date?  I was kiddin' about the proposal thing.  I'm not that crazy to expect a woman to go for that right away or anything, but is this really a date?"

"I don't know.   You tell me.  I kinda thought it was," Shylah replied firmly.  "Isn't that what you call it when a man and a woman are alone together, and it's not about sex?  Technically, you asked me out, so it IS a date."  At the thought of this and at Mark's turning back to look at her, Shylah's smile grew even bigger.

"Oh.  I guess I kinda did, but I didn't think of it is a date so much as just two friends goin' somewhere to talk."

"Fine.  If you don't want it to be a date," Shylah snapped, not sure whether to be upset, angry, or laugh, "then it's not a date."

"Well, don't get me wrong here," Mark said, a little worried.  "I didn't say I don't want it to be one.  You're confusing me."

"We can't have that.  How about I unconfuse you?  Why don't you stop the truck?"

Mark was still very confused, but, despite that confusion, he was so happy to have Shylah along with him in his truck.  He had no intentions of denying the woman's request.  Obviously, there would be some great reward in so doing.

Mark found an area at the side of the road that offered a little clearing, and after stopping the truck, sat, waiting, anticipating what might happen next.  Shylah, much to Mark surprise, scooted closer, until she was so close that hardly a piece of paper could have fit between the two of them.

Leaning in, Shylah planted her lips on Mark's.  It was such a shock that Mark could barely muster any ability to return the kiss, resulting in Shylah doing almost all of the work, but she figured why it was.  She knew that she had caught Mark terribly off guard.

Pulling away a little, Shylah remarked, "You know what that's for?"

"No."

"That's for being the sweetest man I've ever met.  Nobody has ever been as nice to me as you have or said the wonderful things you said yesterday.  You're all I've been able to think about.  I'm sorry that I didn't react better.  I was so confused and scared and surprised by it all.  But I want you to know that you mean a lot to me, and I don't ever want us to lose what we have, but I'm not afraid anymore of trying this.  I know that me and you could be really good together.  I feel it in my heart.  I know you would treat me so much better than anyone else ever could."  Shylah didn't really know whether to smile or lean back in for another deep kiss.

Shylah did not have to decide, in fact, did not have time to decide because before she knew it, Mark leaned toward her and kissed her even harder than she had kissed him.  Mark's lips felt so right on hers, so perfect, so unimaginably different than any others that Shylah had ever before felt.  She felt like she had found her great love, had found the embrace of the one man made specifically for her own happiness and uplifting.  She could already see herself being with this man for a very long time and fighting with all of her might, mind, and strength to save them from the desperate and delusional attempts of others.

How was it, Shylah wondered, that she had spent so many years a part of Mark's life but had never seen what it could really be like to be with him, had never given it the chance that she now felt so stupid for not taking.  The kiss was all that it took for her to know that this would last, that she would give her everything, her very being, to keep it and protect it forever.  This was the man that she would one day marry and have children with, the opinions of others be damned, though that would obviously not include any of her family. 

The only member of the family that there existed some question at all about was Shylah's father, Darius, but that would most likely be because of his terrible dislike, distrust, almost hatred of Mark's father.  Darius despised Thomas for his blatant racism, his high-mindedness, his believing himself to be so far above all others, especially those whom were poor or of a different color, and so many other horrible dispositions.  On the other hand, Darius had always looked at Mark just like a son.  He loved the boy as if he were his own and even told him so on numerous occasions.  Not once had he had a serious problem with Mark on any grounds.  The only problems he ever had were with Mark's general carelessness and what it might get T.L. into and the wall that Mark had damaged the day before.

Meanwhile, T.L. was explaining to his parents what was going on, why Shylah left church with Mark instead of them.  Mrs. King was secretly very relieved and very happy about the situation.  She was happy that Shylah made her feelings known to Mark and that it was Mark and not someone else.  She knew that Mark would take very good care of her daughter.  She, too, saw Mark like a son.  If he one day became son-in-law, instead of son-like figure, it would bring tremendous joys and blessings to the King family.  Mr. King, however, was a little different.  He wasn't quite sure how to feel.

Turning abruptly to T.L, Darius King gave his thoughts quite openly.  "You know, Son, I'm not real sure if this is a good thing or not?"

"What do you mean, Pop," T.L. asked.

"Well, you know I love Mark.  He's a good kid, and I know he's like a brother to you.  I don't have no problem with that boy, not more than just little stuff, but him and your sister as a couple, I just don't know."

T.L. felt a little bit insulted by this.  "Why?"

"I don't know.  It ain't the color thing so much as just I've seen that boy go from girl to girl to girl, and I know how his daddy is.  That's all I'm sayin'."  Darius hung his head, feeling like maybe he had said too much or gone too far. 

"Well, Daddy, it ain't your say," T.L. snapped back, taking a harsh enough tone that it let his father know right away his seriousness and feelings on the matter.

The issue was ended right there.  T.L. stormed off, heading out to the garage to busy himself in whatever would keep him away from his father.  Darius, in the meantime, involved himself with the Sunday paper and a cup of coffee, trying to take his mind off of it all.  He wanted badly to let it all be, to allow Shylah to make her own decision, good or bad, but she was his baby girl, his only daughter, and in Darius' King's mind, Shylah would never stop needing his protection.

Shylah and Mark were having a great time, surreal in all of its beauty and wonder.  After the amazing kiss, it was clear to both that they were, in fact, together.  They agreed that they would try to take things slow, but that would prove difficult after having experienced such intense physical passion.  With kiss after kiss after kiss succeeding the first, they lost themselves in bittersweet immersion.  It was almost too much for both, but they were left wanting so much more that it became difficult to keep from putting their hands all over one another.  Neither wanted to take things to that far stage of becoming completely physical, though there was extreme mutual attraction.  They hoped to not ruin anything by rushing too fast.

The afternoon seemed to absolutely fly by before either Mark or Shylah knew it, filled with so many stolen kisses but mostly, just driving through the country and enjoying the scenery and beautiful weather.  Shylah spent the entire time cuddled up next to Mark, so often, her arm wrapped up in his.  It was all so magical that she never wanted it to end.  It was late before either realized that they had not eaten since breakfast.  At the mention of this, Mark offered to treat Shylah to dinner at Mason's Family Restaurant, which Shylah happily accepted.

Mark could not do enough for Shylah, still opening every door, even pulling out her chair for her at the restaurant.  Before Mark could make his way to his own seat, Shylah sternly remarked, "Your mama sure raised a real gentleman!"  It was such a relief from the treatment given by all of Shylah's previous suitors.

"Well," Mark said, "as long as she was around."

"I know," Shylah replied.  "I didn't mean to bring up your dead mother."

"I know.  It's alright."

The sight of Mark and Shylah brought a strange and confused look from the waitress when she came to take their orders.  "Wow.  Mark Crady and Shylah King, and without your brother, Shylah?"

"Yeah," Shylah replied, smiling.

"So... you two," asked the waitress.

"Yeah, kind of.  I mean, still new."  Shylah was still smiling, not to play it all off as such a happy occasion but because it really was.  It was, so far, everything that she had ever imagined and more.

The rest of the night proved as fulfilling and happy as the day had been.  Shylah floated on air, too excited, surprised, mesmerized to want to go home, though she knew that she would have to at some point.  Her father would probably have something to say about it all, but that would be dealt with when time required.

Before Shylah realized it, it was approaching ten o'clock.  Her father would be mad if she did not get home soon, and Mark had to work the next day.  The fact that Mark worked at the same place as Darius would make matters worse.  Reluctantly, Shylah mentioned this.  Mark understood and agreed it best to oblige.  No sooner than Mark pulled his truck in front of the King house, the light on the porch came on.  Mark hoped hope upon hope that Mr. King would not come outside. 

Giving Mark one last very long and intense kiss, Shylah bid him goodnight, but Mark could not allow that to be all.  He jumped from truck and raced to the other side to get the door for Shylah, though she was already out.  Escorting her to the front door, Mark was rewarded with yet another kiss, happily accepting.  The curtains on the window moved, two eager eyes visible between them.  Mark knew that he had better leave.

As Mark drove away, Shylah blew him a kiss, but Mark, unfortunately did not see.  As Shylah entered the house, her father was waiting at the table, pretending that he had not been watching.

"Where you been so late, girl?"

"Out."

"I know that, but why so late?"  Darius was obviously a little upset.  "If Mark was such a gentleman, he would've had you home at a better hour!"

"So, you obviously know I was out with Mark."

"Yeah," came the only reply.

"Well, then, what's the problem?  Mark is a great guy, Daddy."

"Yeah, he is, but still."

"Daddy," Shylah replied.  "I am a grown woman.  I can make my own decisions, ok?"

With that, before Darius could say another word, Shylah walked away to go to her room.  Darius, feeling defeated and unable to influence the lives of his children, trudged away to join his wife in bed.

Chapter 3

Though Mark went to bed feeling joy the likes of which he had never before known in all of his life, he woke up with a deep sense of dread.  Not only did he worry that the wondrousness of the previous day might not be able to be repeated or that Shylah might lose interest in him quickly, but he also worried that Mr. King, upon seeing Mark at work, might have something to say, something of chastisement.  Mark hated the thought of showing up at work because of this.

When Mark strolled in, Darius and T.L. were already there.  Mark felt that must greet Mr. King, that he could not walk by him and go straight to his office.  He almost always said hi and good morning to T.L. but not always to Darius.

"Good morning, Mr. King."

"Morning, Mark.  Say, you had my daughter out a little late last night, don't ya think?"

"Sir, I assure you..."  Before Mark could finish, Darius cut him off.