CHAPTER 11

DESTINY

I was absolutely mortified! I lost control of my bladder in the frightful chaos on the porch. Not only that, I was straddling Brock’s leg as we landed in a tangled heap, thereby wetting him also. I was frozen with supreme embarrassment when Brock’s gentle words brought me back to a semblance of reality.

“Dee, are you hurt?” Brock wanted to know.

I opened my mouth and closed it.

“Dee, what’s wrong?”

“I peed,” I barely whispered.

“You what?”

I put my mouth right up to Brock’s ear, not wanting Bent to overhear.

“I peed,” I repeated. “I’m so sorry, as well as mortified. I was really scared.”

“So that’s not blood I feel on my leg,” Brock said quietly into my ear.

I shook my head as I pushed myself off of Brock and sat. I felt like I was half drunk. My shame intensified when I noticed a dark stain covering most of the right pant leg of Brock’s jeans. I concentrated hard to hold back the tears pushing behind my eyes.

“Bent, did you spike that tea in the fridge?”

“No,” Bent insisted.

There was a snapping, clacking noise.

“What kind is it, Lipton?” Brock asked.

“Twisted,” Bent replied.

Clack, clack, clack, the noise continued.

“Twisted, as in the adult beverage?” Brock demanded.

“One and the same,” Bent replied.

“I should have known better than to offer Destiny a drink that you supposedly made.”

Clack, clack, clack.

“Bent, why do keep snapping your teeth together?”

“I keep hearing an echo in my head,” Bent said with a frown.

“Imagine that,” Brock said with exasperation. “So tell me why you put Twisted Tea in the pitcher instead of normal tea. You know I don’t drink.”

“I thought it would help the little lady relax, given her situation. I just forgot to tell you all.”

“Dee doesn’t drink either.”

“Okay, I’m sorry,” Bent said with a shrug. “Now I know.”

No wonder I was feeling so light, spacey, and carefree. I was indeed half drunk. That also explained why my inhibitions were lowered to the point that I began blubbering to Brock about how he was a longtime fantasy of mine.

I knew then that I had made a huge mistake when I confessed that I loved him, and he replied by asking “huh” instead of saying “I love you, too.” Then I continued to blubber even further, and he responded by telling me that I really didn’t know him. Right when I thought it couldn’t get any worse, I urinated on him.

As I sat up in my soggy shorts and let my foggy brain collect its bearings, my humiliation only grew. It finally had grown to the point that I could no longer hold back the suppressed tears or refrain from choking out a sob. I sprang to my feet and dashed into the house. Brock called my name as he jumped up in pursuit. He caught me by the hand as I attempted to climb the stairs. I lost it with my shoulders shaking and the weeping floodgates opening. I jerked my hand away from his and turned to flee up the stairs. Brock grabbed me around the waist with surprising force and roughly pulled me into a spoon embrace.

“I’ve never been so ashamed outside of my adult entertainment career,” I blurted.

“Dee, it’s no big deal. You had three big glasses of Twisted Tea in less than an hour. Then with Bent jumping out like he did, especially when we needed to be on our guard, I was more than startled myself. I failed in protecting you. Thank God it wasn’t the real thing. Bent’s foolishness was a blessing in disguise. I will be more alert now.”

“Losing control of my bladder is only half of it,” I told him, letting the other half be self-explanatory and hoping he understood. “Divulging my secret feelings for you is the other.”

“Oh, Dee, I love you too,” he said with a soft, gentle voice as he stroked my hair. “If you knew how much I love and desire you, it would scare you to death. You also don’t know how much what you told me on the porch means to me. But it also saddens me.”

I reluctantly pushed away from his warm, tight, backward embrace. I was relishing the fire his words brought to my heart, but his warning extinguished those feelings instantly. I looked him earnestly in the eyes.

“Why does it sadden you?” I asked, trying not to plead.

“Because I’m marrying Nora,” he said almost regretfully.

I hung my head and nodded. Brock gently lifted my chin, and before I knew what was happening, his lips were on mine. It was only a matter of seconds before we both deepened it, my arms lacing around his neck and his hands softly clutching my back. After a minute or two, he pushed us apart.

“Dee, I’m sorry. That was inappropriate,” Brock declared, looking as rattled as I had ever seen him.

I hung my head and nodded again. I’m not proud of what I said next, but I was still buzzing from the Twisted Tea. I hadn’t planned on drinking alcohol, but since I inadvertently did, why not take advantage of its truth serum? That’s how twisted the human carnal condition is, and why we need to rise above the carnal mind with the spiritual mind.

“You know how you’re planning on marrying Nora this weekend?” I asked.

“We may have to postpone that depending on how the next few days go,” Brock replied. “But go on.”

I swallowed. “I’d be willing to marry you this weekend if you so choose. Then you would be yoked to a fellow believer.”

“Dee,” he said softly. “I have to marry Nora. I know she and I have a very unconventional relationship, but we’ve been together six years. She also knows things about my violent past and that could get me in a lot of trouble.”

“So she’s blackmailing you into marriage?”

“No,” he said shaking his head. “The main reason I’m marrying her is because in a sense, after being together six years, we are sort of already common law married. Even though we never actually lived together. Plus, I know she can deal with my violent past.”

I nodded dumbly. “So what exactly did you do that could get you into big trouble?”

“I’ve probably told you too much already, Dee, but I feel like I owe it to you. Will you promise me that this conversation stays between us?”

“I promise,” I said, offering my hand to shake.

“I guess we remain just friends, then,” he said taking my hand.

“Hopefully the best of friends,” I replied, holding back tears of extreme frustration.

There was a scream that sounded like it came from Bent. A gun appeared in Brock’s hand as if by magic. He pulled us behind the banister as he scanned every window and door. Then Nora walked through the door all business-like wearing the same tan skirt and blouse that she wore to church a few weeks previous. Only now instead of heals, she wore tennis shoes.

“Brock,” she called out.

We came out from behind the bannister. Nora frowned at us.

“You might want to go help your squirrely friend Bonnano,” Nora told Brock.

“Why, what’s up?”

“He jumped out at me wearing some hideous mask and suffered a rather severe blow to the abdomen.”

“That knucklehead,” Brock said. “You’d think he would have learned from the first episode.”

“What first episode?” Nora asked. “By the way, did you spill something on your shorts or are you just happy to see me?”

I quietly climbed the stairs to take a shower as Brock began to explain to Nora about Bent jumping out at us. Nora was an intimidating person as it was, so I really didn’t want to be in her presence when Brock got to the part about me wetting myself.

It was hot and humid outside. Between being sticky from heat along with my midsection and upper legs being saturated with urine, the shower felt extra good. It also seemed to somewhat settle my buzzing brain. After drying off and donning my favorite sleep shirt, I went to my temporary bedroom. Nora was there, digging through a suitcase.

“Hey, roomie,” she said after barely glancing at me.

“Hey,” I responded as I sat on my queen-size bed and grabbed my Bible from the nightstand.

Nora sat on the twin bed Brock had just purchased and removed her tennis shoes.

“You can have my bed, Nora,” I said, feeling guilty at having the larger bed when she was here to protect me.

“No, sugar. I’m fine,” she said with a strange smile. “I think this will all be over sooner than later. Our investigation indicates that Malcolm Reed put out a hit posthaste. It could even go down tonight.”

Butterflies fluttered in my stomach over her chilling words. Then I looked at my open Bible and read a verse I had highlighted, Proverbs 12:28. It said “In the way of righteousness is life; and in the pathway thereof there is no death.” Peace washed away the butterflies. Then Nora became a major distraction and disruption.

First she removed her blouse and bra. Then she stood and removed her skirt and panties. I stared at my Bible, unable to concentrate, waiting for her to depart for a shower. To my horror, she walked over toward me instead. While completely naked, she sat next to me on my bed. I tensed when she patted my bare leg, just above the knee.

“Don’t feel bad about peeing yourself,” she told me. “With the tension of an imminent attack and that deranged character known as Bentley Bonnano leaping out like a lunatic, it’s perfectly understandable.”

“Thanks, but I’d feel better if I reacted the way you did,” I said, smiling but keeping my eyes locked on hers.

“Keep in mind that I’ve been a cop for almost fifteen years. And I’ve practiced martial arts for just as long.”

“True.”

“So don’t worry, girlfriend,” she said, slipping an arm around my lower back. “You’re in good hands.”

Her fingers pressed lightly below my ribs, causing me to jerk and squirm. Nora smiled and laughed. It was the first genuine pleasantness I had ever seen in her. But it was to be fleeting. When I wiggled away from her, my nightshirt rode high up on my thighs. Nora grabbed the hem and yanked my shirt up above my hips.

“Oh my, you’re al fresco under there,” she said.

“Nora!” I declared as I yanked my shirt back down and stood.

“Sorry,” she said in a mocking type voice. “I thought you were a lesbian.”

“I was bisexual,” I said. “As in the past.”

“I see,” she said as she stretched out on my bed and propped her head up with her arm.

“Nora, are you faithful to Brock?”

Nora instantly sat up and stood facing me with her hands on her hips. A cold, hard look transformed her face.

“I was just messing with you a little, Destiny. Since you were so blunt, I’ll be blunt. I haven’t been intimate with another guy besides Brock in over six years. Even during our brief break up. Now hear me, little miss prissy. I actually don’t care for you very much. Brock was never one to look at much porn, but for some reason, he was border line obsessed with you. I know now a large part of it had to do with your Malcolm Reed incident. Yet I still didn’t get why that would make him feel the need to download everything you did in porn.”

Nora’s eyes seemed to vibrate with anger. Then she paused and rubbed a hand over her face. She closed her eyes and sighed. When she opened them again, she seemed calmer and focused, yet her words that followed were even harsher.

“Put yourself in my shoes, Destiny. My fiancée had a serious thing for this gorgeous, cute girl next door type that became a porn star whom he knew from a decade ago. Then low and behold, you two just happen to start attending the same church near Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Plus, knowing Brock the way I do, he will be attending this church for a long, long time. I don’t know you very well, but if you attend for a long time also, you and he could become quite chummy over time.”

I thought of the rather intense kiss Brock and I shared right before Nora showed up. I could feel myself blush as I recalled. I also felt guilt and shame as I stood here with his fiancée, for whom I was supposed to be maid of honor.

“What’s the matter? Cat got your tongue?” Nora asked.

“I understand how you feel,” I tried not to stammer. “I’m also honored that you asked me to be your maid of honor. But given what you just told me, why did you?”

“A couple of reasons, actually,” Nora replied as she paused folding her arms under her bare breasts as she eyed me skeptically.

“Go ahead, I’m listening,” I said lamely.

“First of all,” Nora continued. “It’s just gonna be a quickie wedding. Plus, I don’t have anyone I’m close to in Iowa that I would want to bring in to be a witness. Also, Brock thinks highly of you, post-porn that is. I’m also sure that you and Brock are going to be friends, and I want to be cool about it. What better way to prove that I am than by asking you to stand up for me?”

“Well, I’m truly honored,” I said. “I also hope we can become friends. I mean, not that we aren’t now. It’s just that we don’t know each other very well.”

Nora seemed to smirk for a second, and then her arms fell by her sides.

“I’m gonna shower,” she declared.

Then, without grabbing a robe or something to cover up with, Nora marched out of the bedroom and down the hall to the bathroom. I’m sure Bent would be pleasantly surprised if he happened by just then. I began to wish the attack would come tonight, just to get this whole thing over with.

BROCK

It was rapidly getting dark when I found Bent curled by Nora’s car. His Halloween mask sat upright a few feet from him, giving the appearance of a hideous creature whose body was buried in the earth.

“Bent, are you okay, buddy?” I tried to ask soothingly, even though I was very irritated with him.

“I was scared, man,” Bent mumbled. “I couldn’t breathe for like two minutes.”

“That’s not gonna help your brain any,” I replied.

“Huh?”

“Never mind, let’s get you inside.”

I helped Bent onto the couch. Then I made sandwiches for everyone. When I took Bent a sandwich, he reached for it and then stopped mid-reach as his eyes got wide. I looked at where his eyes were aimed just in time to catch a glimpse of a completely nude Nora Medora sauntering past the upper stairwell. I sighed heavily, knowing Nora was in some kind of ornery mood.

“Did you see Nora up there completely nude?” Bentley crooned.

I didn’t respond.

“She was naked!” He enthused. “That might have been the best few seconds of my life!”

I didn’t respond.

“You wouldn’t believe how good she looked.”

I looked at him and frowned, but I still didn’t respond. I decided to check on Destiny with her words from a little while ago still echoing loudly in my head. ‘I’d marry you this weekend if you so choose,’ she had said. Did she really mean it, or was it the alcohol talking?

“You doing okay then, Bent?”

“Yeah, I’m fine, especially after seeing Nora in her birthday suit. I’ve now forgiven her for hitting me in the solar plexus.”

“After you eat your sandwich, you better get to your post.”

“But I wanna see more of Nora in the buff.”

“You’re not gonna miss anything. I’m gonna tell her to cover up.”

“Can I come with you?”

“She was going to the shower,” I replied with exasperation. “I’m gonna tell her through  the door.”

“Bummer.”

I knocked on Destiny’s door with annoyance. It wasn’t just because of Nora behaving like she was at a nudist retreat. It was mostly because I wanted Destiny with her or me at all times.

“Dee, it’s me,” I said to the door.

“Come in, Brock.”

I stepped into the bedroom and found Destiny sitting on her bed with an open Bible on her lap. She looked at me wide eyed and smiled. Her long, honey-colored hair was mostly pulled back with a hair clip. A long tendril strayed against her cheek, and she pushed it behind her ear with an index finger. Did she try to look adorable, or was that just who she was? I believed it was the latter.

Then she closed her Bible, placed it on the nightstand, and stood. She wore an old, skimpy nightshirt that was pink and had Tweety Bird on the front. The material was somewhat thin from much use and tight enough that it showed her gentle curves. Until these last two days, I hadn’t seen Destiny outside of church, where she usually wore long, modest skirts and dresses. Maybe because of all those years in the sex industry and only a month or two as a conservative Christian, Destiny was unaware to a large degree of just how incredibly sexy she was. I held my breath as I concentrated on keeping my eyes on hers and not roaming downward.

“Is something wrong?” Destiny asked, now looking concerned.

I let out my breath. “Everything is fine, I think. I just wanted to make sure you were settled and comfortable.”

“I’m fine,” she said, shrugging and nodding.

“Is everything good with you and Nora?” I wanted to know. “She about gave Bent a heart attack.”

“Did she hurt him pretty badly?” she asked, wincing.

“I’m not talking about the blow to the belly she gave him. I had Bent recovering on the couch when he saw her walking to the shower, um, not wearing any clothes.”

Destiny sighed, closed her eyes, and shook her head. Her demeanor was sad and troubled rather than judgmental. It occurred to me that I needed to have a word with Nora before she finished her shower. I knew it was her tendency to take a long, relaxing shower after a hard day. Nora had mentioned to me downstairs that she had been up since 3:30 in the morning. I’m sure that was another ingredient in Nora’s odd behavior.

“I’ll be back in a minute, Dee.”

I knocked on the bathroom door as I heard the gentle whoosh of the shower running. I talked to the door, saying Nora’s name.

“Enter, my stud muffin,” Nora replied.

I began to wonder if she had tapped into Bent’s Twisted Tea. I had meant to talk to her through the door, but realized we would need to shout. We had a nice, thick shower curtain, and what I had to discuss would take one minute at the most. So I went in.

“Did you come to join me?” Nora asked seductively.

“No, I came to tell you to cover up from now on. You gave poor Bent an image that will be forever tattooed on his brain.”

“Poor Bent,” she said sarcastically. “He couldn’t have gotten more than a three second eyeful, and I bet I made his day. No, I bet I made his year.”

“Well, knowing Bent, he’s gonna be laying in his tent trying to recall each of the three seconds right down to the tenths, rather than focusing on any approaching enemies.”

Nora laughed her rare, deep-throated laugh. She didn’t laugh often, and when she did, it sounded more malevolent than humor filled. She unexpectedly flung back the shower curtain. I received a couple seconds’ eyeful of her soapy, wet, glistening body before I quickly turned my head.

“Brock Storm, you’re ridiculous!” Nora declared angrily. In my peripheral vision, I could tell she had her hands on her hips. “All of the time you have spent being intimate with this body, and now you won’t even look at it?”

“I’m not looking because I very much want to be intimate with you.”

“Well get in here, then!”

“Not until were married.”

“What a fool!”

“Even if I was willing, we can’t be leaving Dee alone. From this point on, either you or I stay near her, okay?”

“Yes, commander,” she said as she flung the shower curtain closed. “In my big, dark purple suitcase there is a robe that you can bring me. Maybe Dee can walk it back with you so she’s not alone.”

“Why didn’t you bring it in with you in the first place?”

“I’d been conversing with a porn star, so I guess it lowered my modesty and inhibitions.”

“Former porn star.”

“Whatever,” she sneered a reply. “By the way, it looks like Bentley has a freshly bent nose. Just to be clear, I didn’t do it.”

“I know.”

“Do you know how he did it?”

“Yeah,” I sighed. “He and a buddy were jumping in the kitchen where the ceiling is low. It’s around eight feet I think. They were seeing how close they could get to touching their heads to the ceiling. Bent was getting pretty close. On one jump, he gave it extra effort. He also happened to look up as he did so.”

“You’ve got to be kidding,” Nora moaned. “Good thing his name is Bent.”

“I wish I was.”

“I know Bent’s a good friend of yours and all, but the guy is a moron.”

“I’m not gonna argue,” I sighed again. “He’s an amazing mechanic though.”

“On the order of Gomer and Goober Pyle I see.”

I returned to the odd couple’s bedroom and found Destiny as I did before, sitting on her bed reading her Bible. She watched me dig briefly in Nora’s suitcase to retrieve a silky robe. The familiar smell and feel of it caused a stirring of arousal.  It added to the other small stirring Nora caused when she had flung the shower curtain open. That was in addition to the buzz from kissing and hugging Destiny. It didn’t matter one bit if Nora used up the rest of the hot water because I wasn’t going to need it for my shower. After taking Nora’s robe to her, I returned to Destiny and sat on Nora’s bed. “If you don’t mind, I’m gonna hang out with you until Nora’s done with her shower.”

“That’s fine,” Destiny said with a sweet smile. “I’m glad you are.”

“I told Nora that from this point on, I want her or me to be near you at all times.”

“Okay,” Destiny replied as she nodded, but then looked at me, puzzled. “Can I tell you something pretty awkward?”

“Of course,” I said, trying to smile as my pulse quickened.

Destiny opened her mouth and then closed it. Then she folded her arms and looked away from me.

“Dee, what is it? Just tell me.”

“Nora hit on me, I think.”

“You mean, like, made a pass?”

Destiny nodded and then told me about Nora’s behavior and the dialogue between them. The only thing that actually surprised me was Nora pulling up Destiny’s nightshirt.

“She wasn’t hitting on you, Dee,” I reassured her. “Nora was just trying to get into your head a little. Trust me. She knows that you, like me, have renounced your old lifestyle.”

“Is that one of the reasons she doesn’t like me?” Destiny wanted to know.

“She wouldn’t have asked you to be her best woman if she disliked like you.”

“You mean maid of honor.”

“Right.”

“So you’re saying that she likes me?”

“No,” I replied. “Nora doesn’t like very many people. I’m just saying that she doesn’t dislike you. She’s neutral on most people. Shoot, I’m not sure she likes me and she’s gonna marry me.”

“You’re not sure that you’re soon-to-be-wife likes you? Doesn’t that bother you?”

“Like I tried to explain before, she and I have a different dynamic that seems to suit both of us. Nora is a great cop. Her career is her way of overcoming or battling what she sees as evil. That’s where she channels most of the crazy drive inside of her. The rest is channeled into working out like a maniac.”

“I just don’t get why you’re gonna marry her,” Destiny seemed to plead, almost sounding like she might cry. “She’s such a witch.”

“Why are you gonna be her best woman, then, if you don’t approve?”

“Maid of honor.”

“Right, maid of honor.”

“I’m doing it for you. I trust your reasons are honorable, even though I don’t understand.”

We stared at each other for a long moment until a tear leaked out of Destiny’s eye and made me look away. I felt like crying also, but I exhibited extreme mental fortitude to hold it back.

“What’s down the road for us, Dee?” I asked her after I regained my composure.

“What do you mean?” Destiny asked with wide, serious eyes.

“I mean, somehow you and me ended up finding a new life at the same church in Iowa when neither of us is from this beautiful, corny state. But I assume we are going to continue as church mates. Especially after we’re baptized, we’ll be brother and sister in Christ.”

“You know,” Destiny said as she smiled with affection. “From my side of things, I do have romantic feelings for you. But as soon as you say I do with Nora, reality will set in and I will begin to retreat from my crush, hoping that we become great friends. Because I know as far as friends go, you will be as quality as they come.”

I knew for sure right then that I truly loved Destiny Knight. But former adult entertainer that she might be, I simply wasn’t good enough for her. My violent past was just too twisted. What I didn’t tell her was that I didn’t really believe in coincidences, especially the kind that she and I were experiencing. We came together in this big world for a reason. I also believed it went beyond me helping her with Malcolm Reed and Jezebel Black.

“I feel the same about you,” I replied, forcing a smile.

Then Nora sauntered into the room wearing the silky, purple robe I brought her just moments ago, but she did nothing to secure it around her body.

“Hi, kids,” Nora said with phony cheerfulness. “I hope I’m not interrupting a special moment.”

I stood, grabbed the lapels of her rode, and closed it over her. When I took hold of the silky belt and attempted to secure the robe to her body, she hooked a foot behind my ankle and I dropped to the floor. On my way down, I grabbed Nora behind the knee, causing her to fall partially on top of me. I took advantage of her awkward position and put her in a choke hold. She quickly tapped out and I released her, helping her up.

“Now you’ve seen firsthand why Nora and I are suited for each other,” I told Destiny, as I was still on guard for a further attack from Nora Medora.

“I guess so,” Destiny said with a nervous giggle.

“You don’t normally get quite that rough with me, Storm,” Nora said with a smirk. “What gives? Trying to impress the little damsel here?”

“More like I’m getting tired of your orneriness,” I replied. “I’m taking a shower and going to bed,” I told the two ladies.

“There’s not much hot water left,” Nora said.

“That’s just fine,” I replied. “Goodnight, Dee.”

“Goodnight, Brock,” she answered.

“Good night, Medora,” I said.

“Good night, Storm,” Nora replied, right before I kissed her lips.

I pulled away from Nora’s face, but she hooked a hand around my neck and pulled our mouths back together, aggressively deepening the kiss. When I pulled away, I glanced at Destiny who was looking the other way with an uncomfortable expression on her face. My life here in the Corn Belt had been so peaceful until these two strange, intriguing women showed up.