21. Vines of Passion
Haunted by the looming threat of Jeffery's release from prison, Naomi's rising anxiety pushes both her and Caleb to the edge.
NAOMI
TRIGGER WARNING: DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
IF YOU PREFER TO SKIP OVER THAT PORTION OF THE STORY, PLEASE SCROLL DOWN TO WHERE IT SAYS “PRESENT DAY”.
BACK THEN…
Jeffery was going to kill me.
I was sure of it.
I stared at my black-and-blue reflection in the mirror, my face swollen and damn near unrecognizable on one side. I winced, pulling my hand away from my tender skin.
This was the worst he had ever beaten me, and on a day when I already felt beaten down.
I couldn't come to terms with a major retailer that wanted me to change my formula to prolong shelf life, which would have altered the pricing and compromised the guaranteed results Raine Drops was known for. I wasn't willing to sacrifice my integrity or the integrity of my products for this big box store, especially when my customers, my community, would feel the impact in their hair and wallets.
They also wanted an exclusive product, but I didn’t have the cashflow for the upfront costs required to produce the volume they needed before cutting me a check, and ultimately, I'd operate at a loss doing this deal. Sure, I'd get to brag about my products being on the shelves, and sound like a big deal, but at what cost to me, my team and the health of my business?
When I walked into my home after the meeting, I thought perhaps Jeffery had turned over a new leaf. He had set up a romantic dinner for two, roses in his hand, and Donell Jones playing as I walked through the door. Apparently he wanted to celebrate my deal, already assuming that I took it. For a moment, I hoped that maybe, just maybe, the Jeffery I had fallen in love with was back. I was wrong.
Walking away made sense to me, but telling Jeffery set him off completely.
When I gave him a recap of the meeting, detailed the back-and-forth, and explained that I ultimately decided to back out for now, his rage erupted like a storm. The tirade he unleashed left me gasping for air. His large fists, powerful and unrelenting, pummeled my body, each blow forcing the air from my lungs. All I could do was plead silently to God, praying for the pain to stop, for the nightmare to end. Just let me die, please…and I thought I had.
But instead of permanent darkness, I woke up in my bed, the covers tucked tightly around me, as though he had tried to erase the horror he had just inflicted. As I looked in the mirror for the first time, the bruises and welts painting a gruesome picture across my skin, I knew this had to be the last time. The reflection staring back at me showed the undeniable truth: no matter how many times he promised to change, no matter how many tears he shed in apology, he could and would kill me.
Suddenly, I heard footsteps coming towards my door that made me flinch.
“Jeffery, you promised me you’d stop doing this shit. You promised me you’d stop putting hands on her,” I heard his friend Bia's muffled voice say in the hallway as I sat up in bed, placing my hand mirror on the side table.
“My bad, it’s just… she be trying me, man… she makes it hard,” I heard Jeffery's voice respond, pretending to sound regretful, but I knew better. A tear welled up in my eye. “Just go see about her, patch her up so she can get back to work and shit.”
Suddenly, the door flew open. Bia paused, her hand on the doorknob, her face losing color as she looked at mine. Her mouth fell open, making me feel self-conscious.
This wasn’t the first time she’d tended to my wounds. After I’d ended up in emergency rooms more times than I could remember lying about my injuries, Jeffery seemed to get nervous about all the documentation. He couldn’t take the risk of being reported by the hospital staff. Now he brought Bia to me as his rage intensified these last few months for reasons I couldn't understand.
She began shaking her head as she backed away, bumping into Jeffery's chest.
“Hell no,” she whispered, trying to turn around and leave.
“Get in there,” Jeffery commanded, pushing her into the room with me.
“You’re not going to make me an accessory to whatever this is! And what do you even want me to do, Jeff? You beat her into a fucking pulp!” She pushed him in the chest. “You could have killed her.”
“You’ so dramatic, Bia!” Jeffery dismissed her. “Just do your doctor shit.”
“There’s nothing for me to do, Jeffery,” she said, pointing at me. “She needs rest and pain meds.” She turned her head to me, then back to Jeffery. “This isn’t a sprained wrist or bandaging up some cuts like before. You went too far.” Her voice wavered, fighting back tears as I sat there, careful not to say anything that might get me into more trouble.
Jeffery glared at me, scowling. “Just do something!” he barked at Bia and stormed out of the room.
Bia let out a deep sigh and slowly walked over to me, kneeling in front of me and taking my hands in hers. She glanced at the open bedroom door, then back at me.
“Naomi, you have to leave him,” she whispered urgently.
I glanced at the door, terrified that Jeffery was standing behind it, listening. I said nothing, just looked at her.
“Do you have any family?” she asked. “Friends? Someone I could call?”
I had no family. My parents were gone. My grandma had died almost a year prior. And my best friend... well, Jeffery had isolated me from her and everyone else. I had no one. God wasn’t even listening to me anymore.
“Let me help you.”, she pleaded.
I wanted to say something, but how could I be sure her concern was real? Her and Jeffery could have put on a performance just now to get me to trust her, to see if I’d tell her anything. I remained silent, though a tear betrayed me. She gently wiped it away, being careful not to hurt me.
Bia took a deep breath and began to gather supplies from her bag. She opened a bottle of antiseptic, soaking a cotton ball.
“This will sting a bit,” she said softly, pressing the cotton ball against my skin, and I winced from the burn. “I need to clean these wounds first to avoid infection.”
She carefully dabbed at the cuts, wiping away the dried blood and sweat. “I'm going to apply some ointment to help the swelling go down,” she said, her voice calm and steady. She smeared a thick layer of ointment over the worst of my bruises and cuts, her fingers moving with practiced precision.
After that, she gently cleaned the rest of my face with a damp cloth that she brought back after a quick trip to the en suite bathroom.
“You need to rest now,” she said, her voice soft and soothing as she put a small white bottle on my nightstand. “The best thing you can do is take pain meds and sleep. Your body needs time to heal.”
She reached for my hands again, holding them in hers. “Naomi, you don’t have to say anything right now, but when you’re ready to leave, I’ll help you. You don't have to go through this alone.”
I looked up and suddenly Jeffery was standing in the doorway, observing Bia and me. I tensed up, trying not to breathe wrong. She glanced at him, then back at me, before gathering her things and walking towards him at the door.
“Don’t fucking call me again. Put your hands on her again, and you deal with the consequences,” she said as she walked out.
Jeffery smirked, his gaze fixed on her ass as she walked away, then he turned back to me before shutting the door firmly behind him.
PRESENT DAY
My eyes popped open, jolted from sleep by another nightmare where Jeffery played the main character. But Caleb staring down at me startled me just as much.
“Shit!” I screamed, trembling.
"Sorry, you were crying in your sleep again, tossing and turning. I’ve been trying to wake you up," Caleb explained, his voice laced with concern.
Ugh, I hated this so much. The nightmares just wouldn't let up, and although Caleb was aware of them, I still felt a way about him seeing me like this.
“Baby...” Caleb moved back a bit to give me space as I tried to steady my breath. He positioned himself behind me, pulling me up so I could lean my back against his chest as he held me. “Another nightmare? I’m sorry.”
I nodded, feeling the tremors subside as Caleb wrapped his arms around me, the warmth of his embrace grounding me.
“Yeah, another nightmare,” I admitted, my voice shaky. “It was about Jeffery again.”
Caleb kissed the top of my head, his voice soothing in my ear. “I'm here now, and I will never allow him to hurt you ever again. I promise.”
His words washed over me, slightly easing the tension that had coiled in my muscles. “I know,” I whispered, leaning further into him. “It just feels so real sometimes.”
He tightened his hold, his chest a comforting presence at my back. “I got you, Naomi. You're safe.”
I took a deep breath, letting the comfort of his arms chase away the remnants of the nightmare. “Thank you,” I murmured, feeling the fear start to fade, replaced by the security of Caleb's unwavering presence.
“Wanna talk about the nightmare?” he asked after we sat in silence for a minute or so.
I shook my head.
“No,” I said quietly, not wanting to relive any of it. “I just… I just pray that when he gets out next week, he leaves me alone forever,” I admitted, “Though something tells me he won’t.”
I felt Caleb stiffen behind me. “I’m gonna make sure of that, Naomi,” he said, his voice filled with resolve.
But how could he make me that promise? How could he guarantee that Jeffery wouldn’t seek revenge? He couldn’t.
The truth of the matter was, even if I felt some small relief right now, I wouldn't be safe once Jeffery was released. Even assuming he’d be on probation, he seemed to hate me so much that he would find a way to get to me. He knew my home like the back of his hand, my place of business, the places I frequented. Jeffery would come after me, and it was all I could think about, whether I was awake or asleep.
The fear gripped my heart, its icy tendrils wrapping around my thoughts and constricting every ounce of hope I had left. I could feel his shadow lurking, ready to consume me, and I knew I had to prepare for the storm that would come my way.
“Naomi, I have to tell you something…,” Caleb said after a moment of silence.
I furrowed my brows in confusion. “What is it?” I asked, turning fully toward him and crossing my legs.
Caleb looked at me, his eyes brimming with emotion, as if it was physically painful for him to speak. Whatever he was about to say, was this why he had been acting differently since he showed up at the retreat yesterday? Is this why he wanted to move up our flight to New York? He wanted to get rid of me. That had to be it. Oh my God.
“I told you that I would take care of this, take care of you,” Caleb began. “To do that, I had to dig into some things, and I saw some of the photos from Jeffery’s court case... of you.”
The pictures that showed evidence of the abuse I experienced at the hands of Jeffery? How would he even see those? How could he have access to court documents? Most importantly, how could he grow to love me after seeing me that way?
Embarrassment washed over me, and suddenly my heart began to race, and it felt like I couldn't breathe. Caleb noticed the panic setting in as I began to hyperventilate, my breaths coming in short gasps.
“Hey, hey, Naomi. Look at me,” he said gently, moving closer to me. He placed his hands on my shoulders, grounding me.
I tried to focus on him, but my vision blurred with tears.
“I can't,” I gasped, feeling my chest tighten. It hurt so bad.
“Breathe with me,” Caleb said, his voice calm and steady. He pulled me into his arms, positioning me against his chest again.
“Inhale slowly, okay? One, two, three...” He counted as he took a deep breath, guiding me to follow.
I struggled to match his pace, my breaths still shallow, but he didn't let go. “You’re okay,” he whispered, one hand rubbing soothing circles on my back. “I’m right here.”
I clung to him, tears streaming down my face. “I’m so sorry,” I choked out.
“Baby, don’t be sorry,” Caleb said firmly, continuing to hold me. “Just breathe, okay? I’m not going anywhere. I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to upset you.”
Gradually, my breaths steadied, and the panic subsided. I relaxed into Caleb's embrace, feeling the warmth of his chest beneath my cheek.
“Tub,” I breathed out.
Caleb gently let go of me and headed to the bathroom while I gathered myself, wiping away my tears and trying to steady my breath. I heard him turn on the water, and a few minutes later, I was in a warm bubble bath while Caleb sat at the edge of the tub, watching me with eyes filled with an emotion I couldn’t quite put my finger on.
“Better?” he asked.
“Yeah,” I responded, letting my head rest against the wall behind me.
I was grateful that Caleb had stopped my panic attack from going too far, but my chest still burned a little from how tight it had gotten. Thankfully I didn’t have panic attacks often anymore but, baths always helped me to calm the anxiety and tightness in my body.
“I’m sorry Naomi”, Caleb said filled with remorse, “I shouldn’t have sprung that on you. It’s just…I needed you to know I’m taking care of this like I said I would. That you don’t need to be scared anymore because I’m personally gonna see to it that he will never put his hands on you again.”
I couldn't tell where the tears and the water from the bath separated, but I knew my face was wet. Despite Caleb’s assurance, there was no way he could guarantee my safety. Even if he brought in a security detail, how long would they shadow me? They had no idea how relentless Jeffery could be, and my nightmares were reminding me of it, now coming two nights in a row after they'd previously slowed down.
With Jeffery on his way home, I knew he'd eventually make his way to me.
I just knew it.
Yet as I looked at Caleb, I saw the beast lurking beneath his surface, struggling to break free. He was trying to keep it in check—the same beast I had glimpsed at the restaurant when his rage flared. His eyes burned with intensity, his jaw clenched in a way that made it clear how much he was holding back. The tension in his body was palpable, like a tightly wound spring. And then he spoke, his voice low and filled with resolve, leaving me speechless.
“I've seen what he's done to you with my own eyes.”, Caleb’s voice broke as he scrubbed his face with his hand as if trying to keep his anger tamed, “ The way he hurt you. And I haven't been able to sleep all night. I've been up like a madman, watching you sleep, holding you while you cried in your sleep. I can't unsee what I saw, and I had to tell you because, when I do what I do... when I handle this my way, I want to make sure you'll still see me as the Caleb you're growing to love,” he pleaded.
It felt like I stopped breathing.
“Caleb—” I began, about to ask him what he meant.
But he stopped me, knowing I was probably going to ask something I didn’t need to know.
“I will scorch this Earth for you, Naomi, and make no apologies about it… but I just need to know that you’ll still be here, when the smoke clears. Tell me, I’ll still be yours and you’ll still be mine no matter what happens next.”
I searched Caleb’s eyes for more, but there was nothing. I was starting to learn that Caleb could care for me in ways I never thought possible—being the softest place on Earth for me, while simultaneously being Hell on Earth for someone else. I didn't know how he managed that kind of duality, but it lived within him. I could feel it radiating off him. This time, unlike when I was afraid of him in the restaurant, I knew that cruelty wasn’t meant for me. In this moment, it was for Jeffery.
Caleb wanted to cut Jeffery out of my life, out of my brain, like a cancer. But before he did, he needed to know that I’d understand he did it for me because he didn’t want me looking over my shoulder for the rest of my life.
He wanted to fix my problem because although we hadn’t exchanged the words yet...he loved me.
“You’ll still be my Caleb, still a good man.” I assured him, tears falling harder as I accepted the lengths he would go to protect me, though I didn’t know what those lengths looked like.
“That’s all I need to know,” he said, his face a mask of calm, hiding the storm that brewed beneath.
He stood up, his movements steady, and left me to finish my bath alone, the door closing softly behind him.
The vineyard was a vibrant oasis, bursting with the colors of blooming flowers and lush greenery. Rows of flowers swayed gently in the breeze, their petals kissed by the warm sun. Mrs. Thompson stood at the front of her makeshift classroom, her floral apron a burst of cheerful colors against the greenery around her. She was demonstrating the art of floral arrangement with the precision of a maestro, her hands skillfully crafting a masterpiece from stems and petals that we tried to recreate in between sips of wine.
“Yours looks so much better than mine,” Taylor whined as we worked on our bouquets during the workshop.
I couldn't help but giggle as I looked between her arrangement and mine. Her bouquet was a mess, as though she hadn't listened to Mrs. Thompson's instructions at all.
“Well, maybe you should pay more attention,” I teased, playfully nudging her.
Taylor rolled her eyes and pouted. “I'm trying, but it's harder than it looks. I’m not creative.”
I glanced around the garden, taking in the serene surroundings. Other participants were scattered around, some intently following Mrs. Thompson’s instructions while others chatted and laughed as they arranged their flowers. The soft hum of conversation and the gentle rustling of leaves created a peaceful atmosphere, making it easy to forget the outside world for a moment.
“You’re doing fine,” I assured Taylor, reaching over to help her adjust a few stems. “Just a little more practice, and you'll be a pro.”
She flashed me a grateful smile, her frustration melting away. “Thanks, Naomi. I guess I just need to relax.”
“Exactly,” I said, as I added the finishing touches to my bouquet. “Just enjoy the process.”
Taylor put her bouquet down and leaned against the table, folding her arms as she grinned at me.
“I gotta ask you, Naomi, what’s up with you and Caleb Jr.?” she inquired.
I met her gaze, noting the anticipation in her smile. She had been fun to get to know at the retreat, but we weren’t that close. I didn’t trust people easily. Besides, who knew if I’d even stay in touch with her after this.
“Come on...” she teased, sensing my hesitation. “It’s so obvious something's happening between you two. He drives you here in the mornings, including this morning when you thought everyone was already settled in. You two leave together when you think no one's watching, and you both do a horrible job of having side conversations without looking like you’re going to devour one another. Tell me what’s up,” she encouraged.
I tried to suppress the smile creeping across my face, but it was hard not to smile when thinking about Caleb.
“He and I are cool,” I said, the Brooklyn in me not allowing me to say too much.
“Cool? As in...” She leaned closer. “Have you fucked him?”
“Taylor!” I whispered in a shout, glancing around to make sure no one heard.
“Oh my God! You have!” she squealed, jumping up and down and clapping her hands like a seal. “Tell me everything.”
I looked at her like she was crazy. “No.”
“He has a big dick, doesn’t he? How big? Long as this table, I bet. I can tell by the way he walks, like he’s carrying a heavy tree trunk.”
I shook my head, trying to keep a straight face despite her ridiculous enthusiasm. “Taylor, I’m not giving you details.”
I wasn’t going to tell Taylor a damn thing. She talked about Caleb like he was some casual fling to me, but it wasn’t like that. From the moment he sat next to me at Benny’s, I’d been sucked into a vortex.
Each day, my feelings for him grew, drawing me deeper into a connection I hadn’t anticipated. He’d gone from a failed spontaneous one night stand to someone who seemed ready to flip the world over just for me. What started as a fleeting night was quickly transforming into something that felt...permanent.
And yes, he did have a big dick that he knew how to use—one that I took down my throat after I got out of the bath he ran for me in the early morning hours—but that was none of her business.
Caleb made no secret of how he felt about me. He’d have no problem with me screaming from the mountaintops that we were together, but he kept things low-key because he knew that’s what I needed, and he respected it.
“Oh, come on,” she pleaded, pouting. “I just want to live vicariously through you.”
“Live vicariously through someone else, then,” I said, trying to steer the conversation back to our bouquets. “Let’s focus on these flowers.”
Taylor sighed dramatically but picked up her bouquet again, clearly disappointed. “Fine. But you can’t keep all the juicy details to yourself forever, you know.”
That statement reminded me that Taylor didn’t know me at all, which only made me smile as I shook my head. I focused on arranging the last few flowers in my bouquet, letting the rhythm of the task calm my thoughts. Taylor might be curious, but she didn’t need to know everything about my life. I was content to keep some things private, especially where Caleb was concerned.
“Let's see what Mrs. Thompson has to say about these arrangements,” I said, giving Taylor a playful nudge as I held up my bouquet.
"I’ll go get her," Taylor said, pushing away from the table and heading off in the direction of Mrs. Thompson.
I continued arranging my bouquet in the garden, letting the afternoon sun warm my skin when I saw something move out of the corner of my eye. I turned to see, Jasmine?
What the hell was she doing here?
Jasmine was lurking in the bushes, beckoning me over with a desperate look plastered on her face. I hesitated, fully aware the Thompsons didn’t want her anywhere near them. Honestly, neither did I. Every single encounter with her just ratcheted up my dislike a notch.
How did she even get in here?
The last thing I wanted was for her to cause a scene at this beautifully arranged workshop Mrs. Thompson had put together. Knowing the little I did about Jasmine, she’d do exactly that if she got upset, and the thought of her causing any trouble for Caleb’s parents ate at me.
Taking a deep breath to steel myself, I put my bouquet down on the nearest table and started walking over to her, treading cautiously.
“Why are you here?”, I asked.
“Naomi, please,” she whispered urgently, glancing around as if she were afraid of being seen. “I know I’m not supposed to be here, but I didn’t know where else to go. I need to talk to you.”
I crossed my arms, skeptical. “About what?”
“I’m sorry for how I’ve behaved,” she said, her voice softer than I’d ever heard it. “I know I haven’t been kind to you. But I need to warn you... about Caleb.”
“Warn me about Caleb?” I scoffed, already feeling my defenses go up.
She nodded, tears welling up in her eyes. “He’s not who you think he is. He’s dangerous.”
I opened my mouth to argue, but my words caught when I noticed the bruises on her wrists.
“What happened to you?” I asked, my voice softening against my will.
"He did this," Jasmine said, her voice trembling as she held up her bruised wrists for me to see. Her hands shook as she recounted the ordeal. "We were in the bathroom at the restaurant. I told him I'd be there and that I'd signal him when it was time to meet so we could talk privately. But everything spiraled out of control once we started discussing my daughter—the one he once thought was his. He just lost it, and that's why I was crying when I came out."
I stared at her, shock and confusion mixing inside me. “What?”
Jasmine pulled out her phone, scrolling quickly through her messages before handing it to me. “And these,” she said, barely above a whisper, her voice breaking.
I took the phone, reading through the messages in disbelief. Each one was filled with threats from Caleb, promising harm. “If you ever try to ruin me, I'll make sure you disappear forever,” one read. “You won't live to see another day if you cross me,” said another.
My stomach churned, and doubt started to creep in.
The Caleb I knew had never shown signs of this kind of cruelty towards me, but the bruises on Jasmine’s hands and the words on that screen told a different story.
Caleb can be Heaven for me, and Hell for others. It's a duality that's both intoxicating and terrifying. To me, he's been nothing but gentle, his presence a comforting constant in my life, his love a safe space. But hearing Jasmine's story, seeing the fear in her eyes, it's like staring into a split world. One where the man I know as my protector could just as easily be someone else's tormentor.
"But I swear, Naomi..." Jasmine's voice broke as she fought through her tears, lifting her wrists for me to see. The marks were raw, red, encircling her skin like cruel bracelets. She looked at them in disbelief, as if still trying to comprehend how her life had taken such a turn.
The sight of those marks yanked me back to a time I had fought hard to forget. I remembered the marks that Jeffery left on me, the bruises that I had to cover up and explain away. I remembered the fear, the pain, and the isolation. And I remembered the relief when I finally confided in Kayla, the first person to know the truth about what was happening behind closed doors.
Seeing Jasmine's wrists, the memories flooded back, and a wave of empathy washed over me. Despite our rocky history, despite the anger and mistrust, I couldn't help but feel a kinship in our shared experiences of pain. However, I found it hard to believe Caleb would do this.
"Jasmine, I... I'm sorry this happened to you," I said, my voice softening. I took a step closer, my earlier reservations fading into the background. "Who did this to you?"
She wiped away her tears, trying to compose herself. "Caleb! We argued, and it got out of hand. He grabbed me, and I tried to pull away, but he just... he wouldn't let go." Her voice was a whisper, a mix of fear and resignation. "I know you have no reason to believe me after everything, but I'm not lying about this. I can't lie about this."
I felt a chill run down my spine. Caleb's image in my mind. Could he really be capable of this? Was I seeing only what I wanted to see in him, just as I had with Jeffery?
“Naomi?” Mrs. Thompson’s voice echoed across the garden.
I saw Jasmine’s eyes flash with panic.
I turned to spot Mrs. Thompson waving as she made her way to me, a warm smile lighting up her face.
“There you are,” she called out, her voice carrying over the blooms and bushes.
I spun back around, but Jasmine had disappeared into thin air.
“Taylor said you wandered off. We’re gathering inside for lunch today; I wanted to make sure you weren’t left behind,” Mrs. Thompson explained kindly, her tone drawing me back to the present.
"Thank you, Mrs. Thompson. I'll be right there," I managed to reply, my voice steady despite the turmoil swirling inside me.
As Mrs. Thompson nodded and turned back towards the house, I scanned the garden, trying to spot Jasmine again, but she had vanished as if she were never there.
The brief encounter left me with a heavy heart and a mind full of doubts. Jasmine's sudden disappearance only added to the mystery and urgency of the situation. I felt a deep concern for her well-being, mixed with confusion about what to do next.
As I walked back to the house, my thoughts were conflicted. Jasmine's tears, her visible fear, and the marks on her wrists were haunting. They stirred memories of my past that I had worked hard to overcome, reminding me of the vulnerability and fear that comes with being in an abusive relationship.
Lunch was a welcome distraction, but I found it hard to focus on the conversations around me. Taylor's cheerful chatter and the clinking of dishes seemed distant as I replayed Jasmine's words over and over in my mind.
After lunch, I excused myself, claiming I needed a moment. Instead, I found myself heading to Caleb’s office. Talking to him was necessary, but I had to approach him in the right way. I needed to be sure, for my own sake and potentially for Jasmine's too.
I took a deep breath as I knocked on his door. This conversation could change everything. With a mixture of fear and resolve, I waited for him to tell me to come in.
"Caleb, we need to talk," I said as I entered the room. "It's important."