Page 27 of Seventeen Years Ago

“Then why are you excited?” she questioned.

Because I’m hiding something and not very good at it.

“I don’t know what to cook,” I lied.

“Which friend is it? That will help me choose for you,” she said.

Anyone that I said would eventually come out as a lie later when she bumped into them next. I wasn’t a child. There was no reason why I had to hide the fact I was entertaining a man at my house.

“You don’t know them,” I said.

“Them? I thought it was one person,” she stated.

Why did I call to check on you while I’m at work?

“Grandma, I’m at work and trying to do two things at once. Maybe I should call you tomorrow night when I get home,” I said.

“Aiza,whois it?” Her tone said it all. If I didn’t answer her, she’d find someone to drive her back now and it would be three for dinner tonight instead of two.

“Grandma, it’s a gentleman that I have been talking to.”

“Why have you not mentioned him to me before? Why sneak around?”

We weren’t sneaking. Basically, because there was nothing going on that required any sneaking. “I haven’t known him long.”

“And you’re bringing him home when no one has met him? That is such dangerous behavior. This is not like you at all, Aiza. I am very worried,” my grandmother said.

I could hear the panic in her voice. My intention in not telling her was for her not to worry. There was only one way I could ease her mind. “Grandma, he came with me to dinner last night at the president's house. She knows him. And I also had lunch with him on Tuesday. Steven has been nothing but a gentleman. And this is not a date. We are just friends.” Even that was an overstatement as far as our relationship status.

“I am not sure I believe you are just friends. If so, you would not have gone through all this trouble so I would not know that you have been spending time with him this week. But if the president feels comfortable having him in her home, and you say he has treated you like a lady, then I have no choice, but to trust your judgment. I am just trying to protect you. Something I could not do all those years ago. Something your parents died trying to do. You are loved, and very special. Don't be angry with me, if I worry too much,” she stated.

I fought back the tears, as I have for many years. I hated the fact that my parents were taken from me just because some disgusting person paid for my virginity. The hate bubbled up within me every time I thought of it.

My parents died for no reason. Steven did not take my virginity. He did not abuse me. The good within him outweighed whatever had possessed him to pay for my services.

But if it weren't Steven, then it would have just been someone else, and I would have never gotten on out of that room as a virgin.

“Grandma, I know how much you love me. And you do not worry too much.”

“I want you to promise to call me at 8:00 o'clock tonight. If I do not hear from you, I'm going to call the police. I just need to know that you are OK,” she instructed.

It was a compromise I could deal with, and actually pretty wise to have someone privy to what was going on. My gut said I could trust Steven, but if I was wrong, I could be setting myself up for something terrible happening to me.

A chill ran through me just thinking that I was giving Steven a second chance to take advantage of me. It really was foolish. And I should call and cancel. But that will not tell me what I needed to know for Reesa’s mystery project.Is he the type of man that my country should be doing business with?

“Yes grandma. I will call you at 8:00 PM,” I promised. Just then Reesa came into my office. I was still on my cell phone. “Grandma, I have to let you go. President O’Connor needs me. I love you,” I said.

“I love you too. And remember. Not one minute past eight,” she warned.

“I won’t forget.” I ended the call and gave Reesa my attention. “Sorry. I was just checking on my grandmother.”

“She’s very lucky to have you. Since we have expanded our teakwood furniture business and gone international, I have come to appreciate Tabiq even more,” she said.

That surprised me. I knew why I loved Tabiq, mostly because I’d never been anywhere else. This was my home. Reesa traveled the world now. She should have a different perspective. “Why is that?” I asked. “So many people want out of Tabiq.”

“That is because they really don’t know what we have here. Yes, we have gone through years of...pure hell. I never would want any of us to relive them. But beyond that, we have strong families. There are countries in which a person grows old and is discarded. Considered an inconvenience. Here, we value our elderly. We recognize their wisdom.”

Now I felt even more guilty about lying to my grandmother. And her advice wasnotto have Steven over to the house tonight. If I was going to cancel, I should’ve done so when he came in for the meeting with Reesa that morning. Of course, it would’ve been awkward with Caydan and Allyson standing there too.

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