7. Anticipation #2
I heard her breathy voice when she crossed the threshold and moved toward the window in the distance.
I walked to the entrance and stood inconspicuously by the door so I could hear her conversation.
“Yes, I took off today. I’ll be back Monday.” Her words tumbled from her mouth.
After a brief pause, she said, “I’m taking a break, Geoff. You’ll be fine until I return.”
He must have been ranting because Zora was silent for at least a minute until she huffed. In one of the calmest, more cutting voices I’d ever heard, Zora punctuated each of her next words.
“You do not have to know where I am every minute of the day. I have a right to take time out for myself. I will be in touch when I get back in town. Goodbye, Geoff.”
I covered my mouth with my fist and stepped back to the foyer.
Ooh, ol’ boy didn’t know she was staying with me.
Something about that pleased me to no end, confirming my impromptu invitation was the right move. When Zora returned to me, the light she displayed earlier was gone.
“You good?” I asked.
She gave me a weak smile and then shrugged. Zora attempted to turn away and cover her face with her hand, but I circled her wrist to prevent her from hiding from me. Her eyes met mine as she shook her head.
“I guess…uh, not really.” Zora’s carriage fell as a tear fell from her eyes.
I wasn’t expecting the flood of emotion that poured from her, but I instinctively wanted to soothe her. To do that, I opened my arms wide to welcome her. Without hesitation, she folded into me.
“It’s okay. You’re safe to feel whatever you’re feeling.” I cradled her body and rested my chin on her head.
As our breathing synced, I inhaled the fresh ginger scent of her hair and stroked it lightly with my fingers.
“This is so unprofessional.” She spoke into my chest, tightening her arms around my waist.
“It’s perfect. You’re meant to be here. With me,” I added softly, rubbing her back with the pads of my fingers.
She pressed her chest and head into me and then lifted her eyes to mine. I held her chin in my head and kissed her cheek. Only then did her beautiful smile return.
“You are such a good man.” She brushed her fingers across my lips, her gentle voice soothing my spirit like a salve.
Since it felt right, I kissed the tip of her nose.
“And you are a gentle soul worthy of all the goodness that is coming your way.”
“How do you know that?”
I pressed the pads of my fingers near her heart.
“Call it a sixth sense.”
The world stood still as Zora placed her hand over mine, pressing it on her chest. She closed her eyes, inhaling and exhaling before opening them again and nodding. In our silence, I desired her and looked forward to receiving fully whatever she wanted to give me.
“Since you’ve already seen the library, I’ll show you the rest of my home.”
Zora’s tight smile made me wonder if she was embarrassed by her breakdown earlier. She remained by my side as I led her toward the rotunda. We stopped in the middle of the floor as beams of light shone on us and the speckled gray and black marble floor beneath our feet.
Zora tilted her head back, lifting her eyes to the seventy-foot high, hand-painted ceilings with subtle geometric designs covering it. I admired her profile, before following her eyes and pointing to where her gaze landed.
“Those are called Cairo pentagonal tiles,” I said.
“Yes…congruent convex pentagons. Their shapes are more irregular than traditional pentagons.”
I stared at Zora with my mouth slightly open. She looked at me casually as if she hadn’t just described those tiles like a genius.
“That’s quite specific knowledge.”
“I know that because I was a dual architectural engineering and mathematics major at North Carolina A&T. Geometry has always fascinated me.”
“Beautiful and smart? I think I’m in love.” I winked at her, pleased to watch her shoulders fidget as she blushed under my gaze.
“I was conceived in Cairo, and I learned about the city’s architecture when my parents took me to Egypt for my eighteenth birthday. It only made sense to bring a bit of that nostalgia to my home.”
“That’s a special gift. And unique like their owner.”
I smiled, Zora’s words warming my heart.
“Speaking of birthdays, when is yours?” she asked.
“New Year’s Day.”
Zora’s high cheekbones rose as she beamed, adding even more beauty to her glowing face.
“How symbolic. You’re a trailblazer down to the day that you were born. Your excellence is apparent in every way.” Zora waved her hands and smiled.
“Thank you. Castle Kinney is seventeen thousand square feet of sacred space. I love it here.”
Zora nodded.
“I can see why.”
I reached for her hand, which she gave with no resistance. I guided her beyond the rotunda into my commercial-size kitchen, which I had renovated for Cece when we first moved in. Zora walked to the two large stainless-steel ovens and faced me with a surprised look on her attractive face.
“These are restaurant-quality appliances. Do you serve an army in your home?”
I joined Zora and traced the area she touched with my fingers.
“Cece loved to bake and spent more time here when she couldn’t leave the house. It was my pleasure to offer her whatever she needed to be happy.”
Zora pursed her lips as if she didn’t want to say the wrong thing. I smiled, realizing it wasn’t her fault for bringing up such a tender subject. I reached for her hand.
“It’s okay, Zora. I have beautiful memories, and many of those reside in my home. Let me show you the rest of my downstairs rooms.”
For the next ten minutes, I gave Zora a high-level tour of my living room, master bed and bath, walk-in closets, a half bath for guests, a formal dining room, informal eating area, a large reception room for parties, and a cloak room with a laundry room behind it.
“Do you want to see the lower level or freshen up? We have all weekend to explore.”
“I’d like to go to my room now, if that’s okay.”
“Of course.” We returned to the foyer, where I carried her bags upstairs.
As we ascended the circular staircase, she lagged a couple of steps behind.
“I’m surprised you don’t have people to carry my things up.”
“I wanted us to have privacy, so several of them are off today. It’s my honor to serve you.” I winked and smiled big.
When we entered the bedroom I selected for Zora, I busied myself placing her suitcase on a chest at the end of the bed, watching her out of the corner of my eye. She stood and silently took in the decor, moving her eyes from the artwork on the wall to the silky earth-tone comforter.
“This is a room fit for royalty.”
“Of all my guest rooms, this is my most Zen one. My cousin is a prophet and declares that angels have set up residence here.”
Zora walked to the large window closest to her private bathroom and pulled back the sheers, lowering her eyes to my backyard.
“Cairo, this is paradise—your own piece of heaven on earth. What a gift.”
I joined Zora and followed her gaze.
“It’s definitely peaceful. God has blessed me.”
My simple words didn’t reflect the emotions overtaking me as I took in a panorama of the debt-free property outside. I sacrificed a lot to get here. Everything before us represented the fruit of my labor. It was my legacy.
“Settle in and make yourself at home.” I pulled a large sticky note from my pocket.
“Here are the numbers of everyone in the house who can serve you in my absence. Don’t be shy about contacting them if you need anything.
After practice, I’ll clean up, and we’ll have dinner downstairs.
I’ll call you when I get back. You good? ”
Zora reached for my hand and squeezed it.
“Yes. It sounds like a plan.”
When I returned from practice several hours later, Zora joined me for my evening meal in my formal dining room.
I predicted that the tiered vintage chandelier and contemporary furniture would impress her as much as other parts of my home, setting the stage for her to see me as more than a rich basketball player throwing my money around at Liberation.
Although my chef presented a gourmet meal of roasted salmon and grilled asparagus with honey-glazed baby carrots, the main entrée I wanted to dig into was Zora.
When she gently touched my arm in greeting, I peered into her sparkling brown eyes.
Without her glasses, I clearly saw how her long lashes framed almond-shaped eyes I wanted to swim in.
Before she sat down, I hugged her close.
Her formfitting black dress with sheer lace strategically covered her midsection and upper body, making her sexier than sin.
The bottom of the dress hugged her butt and hips tight then flared at the bottom.
Her toes peeked from black sandals with heels higher than the ones she had worn earlier.
“You’re gorgeous, Zora.”
“You don’t look so bad yourself.” I rubbed my hands together and popped the lapel of my black Versace dress shirt.
I pulled Zora’s chair out for her. Her hair, half-up and half-down, brushed my arm as she eased into the seat with the grace of a queen. The scent of jasmine filled my nostrils, making me temporarily light-headed.
“You smell like heaven.”
She placed her napkin in her lap.
“Thank you again.”
I took my seat and then shifted in my seat to adjust myself. After the chef had brought our house salad, I blessed the food and observed Zora as she chewed her food daintily.
As we moved through the service, the aroma of the food, immaculate place settings, expensive wine, and romantic candlelight set the perfect mood as soft R&B music played through the speaker in the corner of the room.
“It’s rare for me to dine in a sophisticated setting with such an alluring house guest.” I grinned at Zora, who tugged at the sparkly single hoop on her left ear, after spooning a piece of cut asparagus in her mouth.
“I’m enjoying our time together too. This food is delicious, and so is the art. Are those Ernie Barnes’s works?”