Chapter 13
NAIJHEL
TWO WEEKS LATER
Ihadn’t spent as much time with Delaney as I had before. Rather than seeing each other five times a week, I cut back to three times a week because of a high-profile case my firm was handling.
But after working so late and enduring the pressure that was upon us, I decided that it was time for some play.
I invited Delaney to go away with me to Sorrel Island for a four-day getaway.
Unfortunately, it was her parents’ anniversary weekend, and they were supposed to be having a family dinner with them one night.
With that in mind, I came up with the idea to invite her parents on our trip to celebrate their anniversary. That led to inviting Aria and her boyfriend, Courtland, and Maurice and Damaris.
“Man, you gotta understand how we’re looking at this. I mean, one minute you representing that no-good nigga and taking my daughter for everything she’s worth, and the next minute you’re kee-keeing all in her face,” Solomon Synclair explained.
“That was the reason I invited you all on this getaway with us. This is the perfect opportunity for us to get to know each other. Mr. Synclair, I know Clayton took Delaney through a lot, but I’m not him.
I was doing a job that wasn’t in her best interests, but at the end of the day, it was just a job.
I didn’t know your daughter, but I have gotten to know her, and I care a lot about her. I am who I say I am.”
“People say a lot about you on the streets. Are the rumors true?”
I sniffed and stroked my beard. “It depends on what you’ve heard. Some are, some aren’t.”
“That’s a bit cryptic.”
“It won’t impact Del.”
“I’m worried about if someone comes after her because of those rumors.”
My eyes and tone darkened. “I’ll protect that woman with my life. Anyone who learns of our connection will know not to make the mistake of looking at her, let alone touching her.”
“I hope so, son.”
“Mr. Synclair, no one wants the problems of fucking with Naijhel King’s woman. There are no depths that I will not go to, to make sure that she’s protected. Besides protecting her physical being, I’m about protecting her mental well-being and her heart. She means a lot to me.”
“Naijhel, Daddy, why are you two looking so serious? The water is warm. Let’s go,” Delaney declared, grabbing my hand.
We stood from the table where we had finished her parents’ anniversary brunch.
I spared no expense for this getaway to make sure everyone enjoyed themselves.
Not because I was trying to impress or buy their approval, but because I wanted nobody to worry about anything.
I wanted us to relax, have fun, and truly get to know each other.
Her father and I followed her, but her father got distracted by her mama walking toward the bar in her little bathing suit. “I’ve got some business to handle. I’ll see y’all later,” he declared.
“That’s what I grew up seeing. It’s what I thought that I would have,” Delaney explained.
I held her hand as we walked toward the water’s edge. “Who says that you won’t have it?”
“I don’t know. Dating you is nice, Naijhel, but I have no idea what the future holds for me.
I had my life mapped out. I married at the age that I expected to, my career progressed according to my plans, and I was supposed to have my first kid by the time I was thirty, God willing.
Look at me now, divorced, not pregnant, and no prospects of starting a family on the horizon.
I never expected that I would be single at thirty. ”
“That was just one chapter in your life. We go through so many phases of our life that are constantly changing us. All that single stuff, you can throw that in this water, like I’m about to throw you,” I announced, scooping her up into my arms and running into the water with her.
“Naijhel! Put me down, Naijhel!” she screamed.
“Not gonna do it.”
“Naijhel, please.”
“Uh-uh. What’s wrong with you, walking around with all them dangerous curves on display on this beach, talking ’bout your ass single?”
“Naijhel, don’t throw me!” she shouted when I lifted her over my head.
“Are you my woman?”
“What?”
“You my woman? I’m not investing in you for my health, girl. Are you my woman?”
“Yes, Naijhel. I’m your woman!” she screamed.
I let her down into the water, and Delaney placed her hands on her hips and scowled at me. “What was all that about?”
“Just making sure the universe knows that you belong to me.”
“We need to discuss this.”
“What’s there to discuss? I’ve been chasing you down, caring for you, and pouring into you for almost two months now.
That’s more than I’ve ever done for any woman who wasn’t mine.
I don’t do that unless I’ve already claimed that woman, and I’m not big on doing that.
Tracy and a girl named Antoinette were the only women I’ve ever called my girlfriends in my adult life.
I’m forty, Del, and I’m not getting any younger. ”
“What are you saying to me, Naijhel?”
“I’m saying that you’re a good woman, and I’ve spent the last couple of months getting to know you.
I enjoy our conversations, the time we spend together, your laughter, and how you make me feel.
You challenge me to think about my perspectives, even at my older age.
I know you’re not designed to be a girlfriend, but you were created to be my wife, so that’s my endgame.
I’m just putting the cards on the table, so if you don’t see me in your future, run now. ”
She stared up at me with those beautiful chocolate-brown eyes of hers, and they sparkled in the afternoon sunlight. “Is this supposed to be your idea of a marriage proposal or something?”
“Not yet.”
“Not . . . yet,” she repeated slowly.
“That’s what I said.”
“What is this, then?”
“What this is, is a declaration of you being my woman with the intent of making you my wife.”
She inhaled deeply and walked closer to me. Placing her hands against my chest and over my heart, she looked up at me. “As good as all that sounds, we don’t know what tomorrow will bring.”
“No man ever has. Yet, we still make plans anyway.”
“And God laughs.”
“So, if you lost your job tomorrow, are you telling me that you wouldn’t go out and find another one?”
“Of course I would, Naijhel. I have to survive.”
“My point exactly. We need people to survive. A man needs a woman the same as a woman needs a man.”
“But she can survive without one, and so can he. I cannot survive without food and water, and I need clothing and to be able to pay my bills.”
“You don’t necessarily need clothing, Del. You’re looking pretty good from where I’m standing,” I remarked, holding her at arm’s length and eyeing her up and down.
She smacked me in the chest. “I’m serious.”
“So am I. You can’t put your life on hold because you were disappointed about what happened in your past. You still have to make plans to move forward in your future, and you pray for the best with every step you take. It’s called faith, big baby. You should try it sometime.”
She sighed and looked away. I could see the tears framing her eyelashes, and I knew that she hated being emotional like this in public. I bent down and splashed water back up on her.
“Naijhel!” she screamed. “What did you do that for?”
“To hide those damn tears you were trying to cover up. I know that you don’t want anyone to see them, including me. But you never have to hide from me, baby. I accept you just as you are.”
“Even my cellulite and stretch marks?” she asked teasingly.
“Every last bit. I want all of you, Del, no fabricated parts, missing parts, or adjusted pieces. You’re already perfect to me as you are.”
“Please don’t hurt me, Naijhel.”
“My only intention is to keep that beautiful smile on your lips, in your eyes, and in your heart. When I finish loving you, Del, you won’t remember anybody before me.”
I cupped her face and kissed her. It was slow and intentional as the sun beamed down on us from above, and the ocean’s waves lapped all around us.
When a particularly strong wave came our way, I held on tight to her and steadied her.
When it subsided, I lifted her in my arms, because I knew the next one would be stronger.
Delaney wrapped her arms around my neck. “You are too damn good to be true, Mr. King.”
“I’m not too good to be true. I’m simply gonna be Mr. Too Damn Good to you. I know a blessing when I see one. You’re a blessing that I’m not about to let pass me by. I’m not a damn fool, baby girl.”
We played in the water for a while before I carried her out and back to our villa.
We relaxed and enjoyed each other over a big lunch spread consisting of fresh slices of roast beef, Hawaiian ham, brown sugar glazed turkey, and Cajun chicken along with vegetables and tropical fruits.