by Imari Jade
Remmao patted Shakir on the hand. “You’re wise beyond your years.”
Shakir agree. “Yes, I know.”
* * * *
Charisma looked out of the limousine window as they rode through the cemetery. It had just started to rain and the mourners were all busy trying to get back to their cars before the downpour. The tiny American flags on the cars flapped in the gentle breeze. Dignitaries from all over the country were there to pay their final respects to the Governor of Louisiana and his family. It was a wonderful service, proceeded by a second line march and then the interment. Later there would be a repast at the funeral parlor which she didn’t plan to attend. She wasn’t in the mood for food or socializing or hearing about the Edwards’ lifelong accomplishments and commitments. She had heard it all before on numerous occasions, at numerous functions and they were now just empty words. When you die it ends. The car sped through the gates and headed toward the Interstate. Charisma ignored the conversation going on around her between her aunt and uncle. Instead she texted a couple of friends in New Orleans to let them know that she was back from Africa and that she wanted to meet up with them later. Her graduation was just a week away and she still had a lot of things to do before walking up the aisle to accept her diploma. Once back at the funeral parlor she said good-bye to her family, climbed in her car and then drove back to her hotel room to change out of her clothes. Later she hopped back into her car and took a drive around New Orleans to see if anything had changed. She planned to do as much as she could to get her mind off of her current situation.
* * * *
“Haven’t you called her yet?” Amon asked Shakir as he lounged around Shakir’s office. “It’s been nearly two weeks now.”
“No, I refuse to.”
“You’re as stubborn as Asina.”
“I take that as a compliment. Anyway. I’m not the heartless bastard everyone thinks I am. I sent the family a condolence card and I also sent Charisma a graduation present.”
Amon sat up straight and stared at Shakir who was seated at his desk in his business office in Nubia. “What did you sent her?”
“It’s a surprise. She won’t be expecting it.”
“It’s not an engagement ring, is it?”
Shakir shook his head. “No, why would I send something like that through the mail? When I propose I’m going to do it face to face.” He stalled. “No, actually it’s a private joke between her and me.”
Amon looked at him oddly. “Does it have to do with sex?”
Shakir smiled wickedly. “Oh yeah.”
“You’re rotten to the core.”
“It will jog her memory and remind her of a wonderful time we had when we first met.”
“Do you think she’ll be back in time for your birthday party?”
“I don’t know. The funeral and the graduation are over so I guess the Ambassador and his family should be returning home soon. They can’t stay away forever.”
“Charisma might,” Amon replied. “She is not a United States Ambassador.” He paused. “What are you going to do if she decides to remain in the United States?”
Shakir frowned. He had not thought of that. Leave it to Amon to waltz in and ask questions instead of being at work at the palace. He had noticed that his cousin had been visiting a lot lately…more than usual. “Before I answer can you explain to me why you have been purposely been avoiding staying at the palace compound and coming here to annoy me?”
Amon feigned hurt. “You wound me, Prince Shakir. I am family. Are you saying that I’m not welcome here?”
“No. You know I’m always glad to see you but don’t you still work for my father? He didn’t find out that you’ve been getting into his brandy?”
“Yes, I still work for your father and no, I haven’t been caught. I haven’t touched that nasty stuff since the last time you and I had some. The truth is it’s been slow. No one has tried to kill him and take the palace over.”
“Very funny, so what’s the truth?”
Amon grew serious. “It’s Layla.”
“What’s wrong with Layla?”
“There’s nothing wrong with Layla. She’s holding out.”
“Holding out?”
“Yes, she’s refusing to have sex with me.”
Shakir stifled a chuckle. “Why is she doing that?”
“Because she wants a commitment. She does not want to be just a one night stand.”
“Will she be?”
“No, I love Layla. I want a future with her.”
“So what’s the problem?”
“I don’t know if I’m ready to settle down. It is all so permanent…so final.”
“So you’re hiding from her like a little boy.”
Amon nodded. “Exactly.”
“Grow up. Layla loves you. Buy a ring and pop the question.”
Amon thought about it for a moment. “You’re right. I’m just being silly. Hey, you haven’t answered my question. What will you do if Charisma does not return here and remains in the United States.”
Shakir sighed. “I have no idea,” he replied. “I still think there is hope.”
Chapter Nine
“What’s this?” Charisma asked, spotting the huge box inside her hotel room. It was covered in International postage but the return address definitely spelled out Nubia. “It’s from Shakir.” She hesitated for a moment and then opened it. Inside was a bag from a toy store. Charisma pulled the bag out and opened it. She giggled when she saw the stuffed camel. The card attached to it simply said, “Congratulations on your graduation,” and it was signed, “Love, Shakir.”
Charisma hugged the camel, reminiscing about the meaning behind the intent. She put it back into the bag, broke the box down, and then put the box into the trash. She’d give him an A-plus for trying, but right now she really wasn’t in the mood to make a decision even though she missed him desperately. Graduation was over, the Edwards were buried, and her uncle had taken care of all the stuff he need to do while he was state-side. Now it was time to face reality and return to Africa. She was filled with both excitement and dread…not knowing what to do. Robert’s death should have solved the problem but instead it had left her confused. Was she going straight to Shakir? Was it right since she just left him and ran home for Robert’s funeral? Was she ready to go back to Africa? That one she could answer. No. Was she going back? Yes. Charisma put the camel away and started organizing her suitcase for the return trip to Africa.
Carmen knocked on the door and Charisma let her in. “I think you need to see this,” she announced as she entered. In her hand was a stack of legal documents.
“What is it?” Charisma asked.
“The manifest from the airline. It was delivered to Julio this morning.”
Charisma flipped through the pages. “Why would I be interested in the names? I already know that Robert and his family died.”
Her aunt sighed. “Look on page ten, midway down the page. Halima Lehmkuhl was on that flight.”
Charisma stiffened and then quickly went to page ten and found the young woman’s name. “It could be a coincidence. There could be someone else with the same name.”
“That’s true. But your uncle called the king to confirm. It was definitely her. In fact, it seems that Robert arranged for her to be there.”
“Meaning?”
“The two of them were having an affair right under your nose.”
For a second she was angry, and then she realized that she had no right to feel that way since she had been having sex with Shakir. Still she hadn’t tried to hide the fact from Robert that Shakir was interested. Then the heifer Halima had cheek enough to tell her to stay away from Shakir while she was sneaking out with Robert. Talk about one sneaky bitch. All parties involved were wrong. She should have broken up with Robert before starting something with Shakir. Now she felt bad and there was nothing she could do about it. “I wonder if Shakir knew about them.”
“It’s possible, but men d
on’t tattle on each other.”
“But if he did know, why didn’t he say something once he found out that Robert proposed to me?”
“It sounds like to me that Prince Shakir did not want to get involved, not that he was trying to hide anything from you. You’re making mountains out of mole hills.”
“Stop covering for him,” Charisma snapped. “You don’t even like him.”
“I’m not covering for him and I never said I didn’t like him. Shakir is a very nice and honorable young man. The reason why I kept trying to get you to see the good in Robert was because you were already dating him and should not have been messing around with Shakir at the same time.”
“I understand what you’re trying to say but I thought Shakir would be honest with me about this since he’s honest about everything else.”
“So now you’re mad at him?”
“To quote Prince Shakir, oh yeah!”
Chapter Ten
“She’s back,” Shakir said aloud after he got off the phone with his mother. The two of them were discussing the finalization of his birthday party which was scheduled to occur in two days. The invitations were out and the Ambassador and his wife had sent their RSVP for the black tie affair. It didn’t mention whether Charisma would be attending or not. It had been two weeks and not a word from her. He hoped she had gotten over whatever it was she was trying to do and was ready to get on with their relationship.
Shakir pushed back in and chair and stood up. He still had a lot to do before traveling back to the palace for his party. A replacement for Halima had been found and her father would be out for a while as he recovered from his period of mourning. Shakir had grieved in his own way for his ex-lover and was now trying to get his own life back in order. He walked out of his office and headed to the lobby where he found the employees busy putting up decorations to welcome guests who were in town for a large convention. They waved and spoke to him as he passed and he obliged by nodding and acknowledging them. There was nothing much he had to do at the hotel because he had very good people set in place to make sure things ran smoothly. His paperwork was done and the bills were paid. Now he was on his way to town to make sure the flowers for the party and to pick up some cereal for his brother. He sighed. He wondered if other princes around the world were assigned to pick up Fruit Loops. He stopped at the registration desk on his way out. “I am leaving for the day,” he told the young man. “My cell phone is on should anyone need me. I have some shopping to do and then I will be on my way back to the palace.”
“Yes, Prince Shakir,” the young man said. He picked up the telephone and called for the limousine. “Your car is on the way.”
“Thank you,” Shakir replied and then he strolled out of the door to wait.
* * * *
“My, my, my,” Remmao said as the Ambassador and his family entered the palace.
Shakir looked away from his guests he was speaking with just long enough to see Charisma enter in a sexy red dress. He turned his head and went back to his conversation.
“That boy is as stubborn as a mule,” he father said.
“Naturally he takes after you,” his mother replied. She rose and his father followed her over to greet the ambassador and his wife.
A horde of young men hurried over to Charisma and asked her to dance. Charisma accepted a dance with one of his cousins, Amon’s younger brother Shaka. The young prince was all of eighteen, tall for his age and already a favorite of the palace ladies. He had to remember to have a long talk with Shaka about pushing up on other men’s women.
“You can not kill him,” Amon as he joined Shakir on the throne platform. “My mother seems to like him.”
“Your baby brother is stepping way out of line.”
Amon laughed. “Only you would see it that way. Shaka asked a beautiful, big butt woman to dance and she accepted.”
“But not just any big butt woman. She is mine.”
“You’ve gotten awfully possessive all of a sudden.”
“What would you do if he was dancing with Layla?”
“Nothing. Shaka and Layla have been friends for years. He’s like a little brother to her.”
“What if a complete stranger asked her?” Shakir pointed. Layla was dancing up a storm with a man he did not know.
“Oh no, she isn’t,” Amon said. He made an attempt to go interrupt them but Shakir stopped him. “It’s only a dance, remember?”
“But Layla is mine.”
“Now look who’s acting all possessive. Layla is her own woman and she belongs to no one but herself.”
Amon sulked. “You are right.”
“Of course I am.”
“Arrogance does not become you, Prince Shakir.”
Shakir laughed. “I think it does.”
The music ended and another man claimed Charisma. An hour later she was still having the time of your life. “She’s just trying to make me jealous,” he said to Amon who had just returned from dancing with Layla.
“Sure she is,” Amon teased. “And it’s working.”
“It is not.”
“Man, love and jealousy is written all over your face. Why don’t you go over and ask her to dance.”
Shakir shook his head. “I will not go begging at her feet. It is my birthday and she should come to me.”
Amon laughed. “She’s as stubborn as you are.”
“I am not stubborn.”
“Oh, look another man approaches.”
Shakir looked, rolled his eyes and slunk back into his seat, fit to be tied.
* * * *
Charisma walked out into the garden, fanning herself. She did not ever remember being so popular before on the dance floor. The young men barely gave her time to catch her breath. She was tired and her feet hurt. She eased her shoes off her feet as she sat down on the bench.
“You’re certainly popular this evening.”
Charisma looked around and Shakir stepped out of the shadows. “Yes, I was just sitting here thinking the same thing. Happy Birthday, your majesty.”
“Thank you. May I sit down next to you?”
Charisma moved over. “It’s your bench.”
“Technically it belongs to my parents.” He sat down next to her. “How have you been?”
“Busy,” she replied.
“Yes, with graduation.”
Charisma nodded. “Thanks for the present.”
“You’re welcome.”
He was being a little too nice and very unlike himself. “I’m sorry about Halima. Her family must be devastated.”
“Yes, they are. She was their eldest daughter. Her father is quite upset.”
“I’m sure he is.” She paused. “Did you know that she and Robert were having an affair?”
“I don’t think it can be called an affair if both parties are single but, yes, I had heard.”
“Before or after the plane crash?”
“Before.”
“And you didn’t tell me?”
“It wasn’t my place or my business.”
Charisma frowned. He did know. “I can’t believe you didn’t tell me something as important as that. I thought we were always truthful with each other.”
“I have never lied to you. I just found out about them and didn’t have a chance to say anything about it because the plane crashed and you left here. You left me and went to him.”
“But he died. I owed him that much. Don’t tell me you are jealous of a dead man.”
“No, I’m not jealous. I just think you owed me more than just a message on a voice mail.”
“I thought it best to do it that way because I might talk myself out of leaving.”
Shakir rose. “Maybe you should have. I think it’s time for you to make up your mind. Either you want me or you’re going to give up on life and continue to mourn your dead boyfriend.”
“That’s not fair,” she screamed at him.
“I think I’ve been more than fair. I have told you how I feel about
you. The ball is in your court now.” He walked away.
* * * *
Charisma had been hiding out in her room at the palace all morning, hoping not to run into Shakir after last night’s argument. Luckily they were scheduled to leave in a couple of days so she wouldn’t have to face him again.