Page 165 of Chemistry: The Chemist

His confession was baffling. He took me by the hand and down the hall toward the bathroom. He twisted the knob to start the shower.

“I wasn’t born yesterday, my love. And, for that particular day, I’d been preparing my entire adulthood. My addiction to water didn’t form until I became a Chemist for people the law wouldn’t approve of. I discovered the only facility that would house my level of ignorance and it was built in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by the blue shit I bathe my troubles in every chance I get.

“From that moment on, I began preparing. My body quickly adapted. I can reach depths other human can’t. My arms don’t grow tired for hours. I can hold my breath for minutes at a time. I embrace tides. Waves fuel me. You didn’t push me off the ledge, Egypt. I jumped. I knew. My father knew. My driver… he knew as well.”

“But, how?”

“The agency’s payments on your lease,” he explained. “They made me curious, but not enough to start digging. The call to your mother was the one. She never called you by name. Not once. She was protecting her daughter. I have seven sisters and four brothers.

“I’ve made a habit out of never saying their name at any point of any conversation, unless I’m alone with them. Then there was Adonis. He’s mouthy. Vomited at the mouth from the second Aden put him in the truck until we dropped his pissy ass off at the airport where his car was waiting.”

He began to undress. Stunned silent, I marveled at the enormous tattoo covering his entire back. I knew those eyes. Those ears. That face. It stared back at me daily. A beautiful, colorful mural mimicking the renowned image of the Virgin Mary holding her child inked his skin. I, too, was holding a child. Our child.

“Che– Chemistry.”

With my finger, I began to trace the intricate details.

“After everything he’d said got back to me, I retraced your steps. The home you’d visited your old friend at wasn’t just any home, Choc. There was a passageway that led to another home, two houses down the block. There, I found bits and pieces of the case that was being built against my family.”

My head grew lighter. The room began spinning. At any second, I was bound to collapse. Both undressed, we climbed into the shower. I didn’t know how long my legs would last. I didn’t know how long I’d last.

“And then there was Art. She was the final evidence.”

He stopped, momentarily, but continued almost immediately after.

“Even with all I knew, I found solace in the fact you had been most honest with me about everything else. You didn’t feed me the bullshit profile they’d designed for your cover. You gave me you, Egypt.

“And, you included everyone you loved, putting them in harms way so you could sleep well knowing they’d had a glimpse of or even heard about the man in your world. Though it was against protocol, you exposed yourself to me. Without regret. That let me know just how deep you were in. How those three words you said to me over and over again weren’t a lie.

“They were gems in my discovery. But, the house was the golden ticket. I waited patiently for you to do what needed to be done, but you were taking your precious time. To protect those girls, I was willing to do anything, even leak my cell number.”

“It was you!”

“It was you, Choc. All I did was speed up the process because I was so fucking tired of waiting.”

Bradford came to mine, immediately.

“... when we entered, he was sitting at the table. Fully suited. Un-fucking-bother. I’ve never seen anything like that before and I’ve been on this fucking job for twenty years, Johanson. Our presence didn’t disturb him, not one bit. I almost turned my ass around when I saw him. Something about this man says he means business, man. Shit. He’s been cooperative, dictating our moves without saying a fucking word. This shit is– I don’t know. Just take the fucking protection.”

“Why didn’t you say anything?”

“What would it have changed?”

“You led them right to you.”

“You led them right to me.” He chuckled. “I made them reveal their hand.”

“Chemistry.”

His mind was such a complex place. His wisdom was far beyond his years.

“Yes, Choc.”

“I thi– fain–”

The low lights of the cabin brought me comfort. An hour ago, I’d stirred awake in unfamiliar airspace with the two people who meant the world to me nearby. I wasn’t sure when we’d left my home or how Chem managed to get us both out and onto the plane. Completely overwhelmed with all that was happening, I’d collapsed in his arms.

A few feet away, Chem rocked our daughter, trying to get her to settle after a full, eventful feeding. Shit fit so perfectly in his arms. The view was nothing like I’d imagined. It was better. The fussing had finally subsided and she was resting peacefully in her father’s arms.

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