Page 82 of Royal Pain
Chapter 28
Belinda
The music of Africa plays softly in the background. There’s so much laughter and conversations rising from the dinner table, the music hasn’t a chance. We are a loud blended family. Well, almost. Tomorrow’s nuptials will make it official.
As I look around at the faces of our families, it almost brings tears to my eyes. My mother and Queen Ayana are touching hands and laughing at something someone has said. Kwai is leaning in to my sister’s ear. She’s smiling and pressing her lips together. What’s that about?
I shoot a look to Soraya, who of course is watching the whole thing. She smiles, nods, and raises a wine goblet to me. The sense of how deep our friendship is settles in my heart.
James and Susan are being entertained by Tarik’s children, who seem to be bonding with their new American friends. A bit ago I saw James showing Nubia something on his cell.
My father, who can talk to anybody, is chatting up the Zulu Chief. I wonder if they’re talking about his gift to me?
I feel a squeeze of my hand under the table. Looking into his emerald eyes, a message passes between us. Yes darling, I feel it.
“Kiss me. We can talk later,” he says grinning.
So I do. Right there in front of God and country. And it’s laced with all the love I feel. This setting, the beauty of the batik and beaded decorations, even the people that are with us, fade away. It’s just us.
“God, I love you woman.”
I rest my head on his chest and feel the beating of his heart.
“Toast!!” Kwai says, standing and tapping his champagne flute with the knife. “Does everyone have champagne?”
The waitstaff is perfect as usual. I haven’t seen them miss a beat, whether it’s an official dinner or family meal.
“I have a few things to say. Is anyone surprised?” he jokes.
“I’m surprised it’s just a few,” my husband-to-be calls.
All around the table I see the happy faces. Those familiar with Kwai get the joke. My family goes along with it, joining in the laughter.
“Anyway, since I was rudely interrupted by a future king, it’s protocol that I don’t tell him to F off.”
The laughter rises. Even the queen is holding it in, while shaking her head.
“I won’t stifle you, brother!” Zan teases. “If you behaved, how would we recognize you?”
That one even makes me giggle.
Kwai’s face softens. “But really my brother, I want you to know what I feel. How I think of you.”
The guests quiet and I feel Zan squeeze my hand. Without words or a look, I know his eyes are welling with tears.
“You and I and Tarik were always best friends. A rowdy band of brothers. Well, maybe I was the rowdy part. But besides being my brother, did you know you were my hero?”
Oh God. Immediately I watch the eyes of our guests fill with tears. Even my father feels the emotion of the moment. Zan makes a quiet sound that says he’s holding back his emotions.
“Heroes are plentiful in our family,” Kwai continues. “But I think we pick one person who you sort of want to be like. For me brother, it was you.”
With that, Zan stands and goes to Kwai. They embrace and hold tight for a few beats. Both have tears running down their faces, and so does every person here.
“And I think you’ve found your own heroine in Belinda. I want to raise my glass and say I wish you both every happiness.”
Everyone raises their flute in unison.
There’s whistles and hear hear’s all around.
