Chapter 28
Several weeks passed before the trial of the NDC thirty-three was over. At the conclusion of the trial, the jury found seventeen of the defendants guilty of high treason, conspiracy to overthrow the government and murder of the soldiers killed in the assault on NDC headquarters. Sixteen defendants were acquitted and sent home to their very relieved families. The courthouse was packed as the judge was scheduled to pass sentence on the seventeen defendants and Obatala. Kevin and Deviane were seated in the front row of the courtroom, next to the Attorney General. The Prime Minister and Anila were at home in the study, waiting for the judge's decision.
"Ladies and gentlemen, it is now my duty to pass sentence on the defendants standing before me. The defendants will please rise."
All the defendants came to their feet. Kevin's eyes were fixed on Obatala.
"Treason is the greatest offense a man can commit against his country and his people. Our young republic is dependent on loyalty and allegiance to the Constitution. When citizens conspire to gain power by force, in contravention of the will of the people, they must be punished quickly and severely, so that others will be deterred from committing such a grievous crime. Accordingly, I have little choice but to sentence the seventeen remaining defendants to death by public hanging."
Screams and wails emanated from the families of the condemned. A buzz of excitement radiated throughout the court from those supporting the government and the constitution.
"The sentence of the last defendant, Obatala Mohammed, I must say, has been the most difficult of my life. Here is a man in the thick of the conspiracy to overthrow the government, but who has remorse and tries to stop what has been started. Although he is powerless to arrest the plot himself, he cooperates and helps bring justice to Trinidad. It is a tribute to this man that he came to his senses and had the decency to try to stop the evil he had helped conceive.
“But is that enough to cleanse him of his crime? Many, even the chief prosecutor, believe his life should be spared, but I think not. One cannot undo what has been done. Obatala is not an evil man, but he made a grievous mistake. An example must be made of him, so that others will know of the certainty and severity of punishment for any act of treason. This is necessary for the very self-preservation of our Republic. Therefore, I sentence Obatala to death by lethal injection. For his remorse and aid in bringing justice to the Republic, I will let him die without pain and with a measure of dignity."
Kevin rose to his feet and screamed.
"No! No, you can't kill him!"
Deviane's head fell as tears poured out of her eyes. The Attorney General grabbed Kevin's arm.
"Kevin, the press will see you!"
"Why?! Why does he have to die? It isn't necessary. Aren't seventeen lives enough?"
"Kevin, we did everything we could."
"You obviously didn't do enough!"
Deviane took Kevin's arm. "Come on, Kevin. We need to go home and pack. I want to leave as soon as possible," she said.
When Kevin and Deviane arrived home Anila was waiting.
"Sweetheart, you can't leave. Your father did everything he could to save Obatala. He loves you very much. If you leave like this, it will kill both of us."
"I can't live in a country where traitors rule and good men are murdered in the name of justice. If I see my father again, I will spit in his face!"
Deviane ran upstairs and slammed the door.
"Kevin, you've got to talk some sense into her! Running out on her family won't accomplish anything."
"You know there’s nothing I can do to stop her, even if I wanted to. She has a mind of her own. We know politics sometimes require certain moral sacrifices, but Deviane and I don't want to be a part of that."
"I was so looking forward to your wedding. This is such a tragedy. Please try to change her mind."
"You've been very good to me, Anila. You and Kiran will be welcome at our home anytime. I'll write to you often, even if Deviane doesn't."
Kevin took Anila's hand and squeezed it lovingly. Then he gave her a hug and ran upstairs to pack. Thirty minutes later, Kevin and Deviane were at the door, ready to leave. As they were deciding how to get to the airport, the Prime Minister's limo drove into the driveway. Ahmad got out and walked over to them.
"Do you think I'm just going to let you pack up and leave my house, Deviane?"
"I'm eighteen years old. You can't stop me. This is still a free country, isn't it?"
"Deviane, you're upset and confused. Don't do anything rash. Stay here a few days and think this through. If you don't want to stay here at the house, I'll put you up at the Hilton."
"I'm sorry, nothing will change in a few days. Now, are you going to have someone take us to the airport or do I have to call a cab?"
"Don’t think you can come running back here when you run out of money, or your infatuation with Kevin wears off."
"You bastard! I hate you!” Deviane screamed. “Kevin, let’s go!"
Deviane picked up her bag and started down the driveway. Kevin picked up the other suitcase and started to follow her.
"Wait!" the Prime Minister said as he motioned to his driver. "Take them to the airport and make sure they leave the country.” The driver nodded and took Deviane’s bag from her hand. As she and Kevin got in the big limo, Ahmad glared at her and said, “You’re no longer my daughter! . . . Don’t ever come back."
Deviane looked back at her father and replied sadly, "Don’t worry, father. You’ll never see me again."
Ahmad swallowed hard as the limo pulled away.
The ride to the airport was quiet. Kevin held Deviane's hand and caressed it gently. After a while, Deviane laid her head on Kevin's shoulder and closed her eyes. Kevin watched her sleep. God I hope we’re doing the right thing. How will I take care of you, Deviane? You have always had everything and I have nothing to give you. I can’t believe you left your family for me. Am I worthy of your trust? God, I hope so. It feels so strange to be responsible for you now. If I screw up your life I’ll never forgive myself. But I won’t screw it up, I promise. I’ll figure out a way to take care of you and bring you happiness. I am so glad you will always be at my side. I am truly a lucky man.
Kevin looked down at Deviane's dark, shiny hair. He leaned down and took a deep breath, breathing the sweet fragrance of her body. He felt a rush of excitement so exhilarating, he nearly cried out with joy. Tears began to flow from his eyes.
Deviane looked up at him, smiled. "You're all I've got left, Kevin. Don't ever leave me."
The flight to Miami went quickly, but there was a long layover before the connecting flight to Dallas. Kevin called home to let his parents know he was coming. They were happy, but surprised by the call. It was mid-afternoon, so the two travelers went to the Starbucks in Concourse C to kill time.
"How are we going to tell Cetawayo about this?" Deviane asked.
"I don't know, but we've got to tell her before she reads about it in the newspaper."
"I hope it's not on the television news."
"Maybe we should call her."
"Oh God, she'll be devastated. We should be there in case she reacts badly."
"Yeah, you're right. We'll be home before the evening news comes on."
Deviane sipped her coffee and then frowned. "I'm sorry we won't be able to get married in the Botanical Gardens. It would have been magnificent.”
"That's all right. We have a beautiful church in Plano. We'll have a nice wedding there."
"Do you think my mother and Kiran will come?"
"If your father lets them."
"If Mother wants to come, he couldn't stop her."
"Then she'll be there. She still loves you."
"Was I foolish to give away my inheritance?"
"No, I don't want it. All I want is you. If you had a million dollars, you might wonder if I really loved you. Now you'll never feel that way. We've got what we always wanted, right?"
"So drink your coffee, it's about time we left for the gate."
It was nearly eight o'clock when the big Boeing jet landed at Dallas-Fort Worth Airport. Kevin's parents met them at the airport and took them directly to Cetawayo's apartment. When Cetawayo answered the door, her eyes were red and swollen. She had already heard the news.
"I'm so sorry, Cetawayo," Deviane said as she embraced her. "I left immediately, when it was apparent my father had betrayed us."
"Come in. I’m so glad to see you. I know you did all you could. I'm sorry this affair has driven you from your family."
Kevin and his parents followed Deviane and Cetawayo into the apartment and took a seat.
"This is my mom and dad, Pat and Glen Wells."
"Hi, it's nice to meet you."
"Do you want to come stay at our house tonight?" Kevin asked. "We'd love to have all of you."
"No, thank you. Frankly, it isn't a shock to me that this happened. I've been mentally preparing myself for weeks. I knew it was unlikely they would spare his life."
"When I saw him last, I warned him this was a possibility," Kevin said. "He seemed to have resigned himself to his fate. He made me promise that his children wouldn't forget him."
"I won't let them forget him. He was their father and he was a great man," Cetawayo replied.
As they were talking, Kemba ran into the room.
"Kevin! It's Kevin and Deviane!"
Soon the twins had joined Kemba, who had made himself comfortable in Kevin's lap.
"I'm afraid you're the only man they know in America."
"He looks pretty good with kids in his lap, don't you think?" Deviane asked.
"Oh yes," Mrs. Wells said. "He'll definitely make a good father."
"All right, that's enough, girls. Why don't you take one of these guys? I only have two knees."
Cetawayo got up and took one of the twins from Kevin.
"Thank you for stopping by. I'll be fine. You don't have to worry about me."
"Have you got a job yet?"
"Not yet, but I took the test for my teaching certificate. I should get the results in a couple of weeks."
"Good," Deviane said.
"The kids have been going to school and they seem to be adjusting well. I've found a day care that will take them home after school, when I go back to work."
"Excellent," Kevin said. "Well, be sure and call us if you need anything."
"I will."
"I guess we better go, we're kind of tired from our trip."
"I can imagine. Thanks for stopping by. I'm so glad I finally got to meet your parents, Kevin."
Everyone stood up and started towards the door.
"If you need anything, call us," Mrs. Wells said.
"I will."
It was late when they got home. Mrs. Wells made coffee and they talked for several hours, discussing what had happened and making plans for the upcoming weeks.
When Kevin's parents finally went to bed, Kevin and Deviane were still too keyed up to sleep, so they went into the den and turned on the TV. As they sat on the sofa, in each other's arms, they wondered what the future would hold for them. Finally, they succumbed to their exhaustion and fell into a peaceful sleep.
The Prime Minister's Daughter Page 28