Chapter 7
Chapter 7
T he next morning ZsaZsa was on top of the world. Instead of going out as originally planned, they spent the evening in her room talking and kissing. ZsaZsa blushed remembering the way he made her feel. It was the first time she had ever kissed a boy using her tongue and holding each other’s bodies close. She had no idea if she’d done it right, but James seemed to enjoy kissing her too. Good heavens above, it was a wonderful feeling that she did not want to stop. She wondered if that was what it felt like to have sex. If it was, she may have to reconsider her position on that. Shaking the thought from her head, ZsaZsa looked at the clothes in her closet. Her outfits from home were vibrant and beautiful to her. But thinking of the dress Deirdre had on in the pictures she took with James, made her question her selection. Maybe it was time to change her look. She had been adjusting to the American way of dressing little by little, but there were just some things she was not willing to put on her body. She knew there were ways to be alluring without showing intimate parts to the world, she just had to figure it out. She wondered if James liked what Deirdre was wearing.
Exhaling, ZsaZsa felt she was putting too much thought into the matter. She pulled out one of her vibrant tops that was purple, gold and a strip of red, then pulled out a pair of jeans. That was about as American as she was going to get right now. She looked at her body in the mirror. At five feet-five inches tall she was curvy in all the right places, but compared to Deirdre she might as well have been shaped like a boy. Deirdre had a bosom, like her mother’s, full and boom-boom-statuesque, was the word. ZsaZsa wasn’t flat by any means, but her breasts did not stand out like Deirdre’s. She turned to look at her backside. Boys liked a bit of a hump back there she thought. She had a little bump, but not like Deirdre’s. ZsaZsa sighed. She was just average. How in heaven’s name was she to compete against someone like Deirdre?
“Stop it.” She chastised herself. “You are beautiful the way that you are.”
She closed the closet door, no longer interested in looking into the mirror. James was interested in her mind, not just her body. If he wanted Deirdre, he could have her and many others just like her. At least that was what he said. But why wasn’t he interested in her body? The question plagued her as she dressed for the day. She put it to the back of her mind and thought about something that James did talk about. It surprised her how he openly shared his fears of disappointing his family. She certainly understood that, she too had the same concern. Her return to Emure was something they all expected. However, she had no intentions of permanently staying there. Yes, she owed her country the benefit of her education, but more so she wanted to help those who were treated as second-class citizens. And as much as she wanted to help change the economic and living status of her countrymen, she was not willing to sacrifice her happiness.
With her and James being from what others considered prominent families, her from royalty and him from multi-generational wealth, there were certain expectations. It was good to speak with someone who understood the added pressure and complexities of her life. Never once did James minimize her feelings because she was born into a privileged family. Yes, many things were provided to her on a silver platter yet what some did not understand, was the items on the platter may not be what she wanted or desired. Trying to sort through her future plans was complicated and very soon she had a feeling it would get worse the closer she got to completing her education. For now, at least while she was still in the United States, she did not have to be concerned with being sold in marriage to the highest bidder for land.
James' situation was a little different from what she gathered. While he did not have to worry about being sold, he did seem concerned about his future as a lawyer. The way he struggled with his choice let her know there was more he wanted to say. She had to wonder if he was as opposed to becoming a lawyer as she was to being a princess.
Her cell phone buzzed interrupting her thoughts. She smiled as she answered. “Hello my brother. What are you doing on this fine Saturday?”
“Requesting my baby sister to visit with me at your earliest convenience.”
“Is there something amiss?” ZsaZsa asked as she sat on the side of the bed.
“Nothing for you to worry about,” LaVeré replied. “Shall I see you within the hour?”
“Yes,” ZsaZsa replied a little uneasy.
She thought about the request as she walked into the kitchen area. Sitting at the kitchen table were Angela and Deirdre with Phire at the stove.
“Are you making pancakes?” ZsaZsa asked.
“I am,” Phire said as she mixed the batter.
ZsaZsa walked over to the sink and washed her hands. “I will cook some bacon to go with it.”
“I thought people in Africa didn’t eat bacon.”
Everyone held their breath as ZsaZsa turned from the refrigerator to glare at Deirdre. ZsaZsa pulled the bacon out of the refrigerator. She was still very angry over what Deirdre attempted to do. However, as James stated, it was up to her whether she allowed Deirdre’s actions to have an impact on her. Well, she chose not to give Deirdre that much power over her.
“We eat normal food in my country,” she replied. “If you want some, I suggest you go wash your hands and set the table.”
Deirdre walked over to the sink and washed her hands. “What am I, an indentured servant or something?”
“You got that from me telling you to wash your hands if you want to eat?” ZsaZsa glared at her when a knock sounded at the door.
“I’ll get it,” Angela said.
ZsaZsa shook her head as she turned to their visitor. Phire’s friend, LT walked in the door.
“Good morning,” LT said as he pulled his gloves from his hands.
ZsaZsa watched as Phire walked into his open arms. She watched as the two kissed and smiled. She had no idea what happened between them but apparently Phire and LT made up just as she and James had. Someone in the room cleared their throat.
“We are having pancakes, Mr. Mayor-elect,” Angela said. “Would you like to have some? Phire made them with her own little hands.”
“That was very rude of me. Good morning, ladies.” LT spoke.
“Good morning, but don’t mind us,” Deirdre said with a wave of her hand. “Carry on. Would you pass me the syrup,” she said to ZsaZsa.
“A please would kill you?” Angela asked.
“Please.” Deirdre smirked.
ZsaZsa passed the bottle to her.
Phire smiled at LT. “My life.”
LT kissed her. “Carry on.” They kissed again and then he walked out the door.
Phire stood there looking at the closed door for a moment, then turned towards the table. All eyes were on her…expectantly.
Deirdre nodded. “You got that, didn’t you?” She turned and started eating. “I ain’t mad at ya…. that’s a fine piece of chocolate.”
Phire’s eyes met ZsaZsa’s. The look of happiness on her friend’s face made her smile.
“Come eat, before your food gets cold,” ZsaZsa said.
“She can just use the heat from that kiss to warm it up,” Angela laughed.
“I know that’s right.” Deirdre gave her a high five. “I take it you and James had a similar encounter yesterday?”
“I do not think you wish to discuss James with me today.” ZsaZsa stated as she sat at the table. “I have no plans on moving and you do not have the means to move. Therefore, we must reside in this residence together. At some point you will see that I am not your enemy. For us to co-exist peacefully in this space, it would be my wish if you learn to respect my relationship with James. In return, I will refrain from kicking your ass around the apartment whenever I feel like it.”
She picked up her fork and began eating, ignoring the quietness that was surrounding them.
“Well,” Phire cleared her throat. “I believe the ball is now in your court Deirdre.”
“Your face indicates you should accept the gracious offer,” Angela suggested. “It’s very clear the little African princess can sweep the floor with you at will.”
“Are you two finished?” Deirdre huffed, then exhaled. “Look,” she dropped her fork. “I’m just tired of everything being handed to you on a silver platter. I don’t want James, and I think you know that. But he came to you so easy just like everything else. You may not see it that way, but I think I did you a favor.”
ZsaZsa was willing to let her off easy, however, her curiosity got the best of her. “How did you do me a favor by offering yourself to the guy I like?”
“Now you know can’t nobody else take him from you.” She huffed. “Hell, if he turned me down, you know no one else has a chance at taking him.” Deirdre picked up her fork and began eating with a sly grin on her face.
“Acceptable,” ZsaZsa nodded in agreement. “Then yesterday was a good thing for both of us.”
“How were your actions, which I believe to have been a little over the top, good for me?” Deirdre asked.
“Well, as I see it, you learned the little African princess can kick your Chicago behind without breaking a sweat.”
Angela and Phire burst into laughter.
“Okay, does this mean we can now call this a truce?” Phire asked.
ZsaZsa stared at Deirdre, then held out a strip of her bacon. “Want some?”
Deirdre hesitated then took the bacon and bit it. “Fry it on top of the stove the next time. Only people from odd countries cook their bacon in the oven.”
“Oh, my goodness.” Angela glanced up at ZsaZsa. “Next time can you just cut her tongue out?”
ZsaZsa frowned at her. “That is a little barbaric, but I will see what I can do.”
“What!?” Deirdre cried out.
They all laughed and continued with breakfast.
LaVeré was walking down the stairs as ZsaZsa entered the side door. "Hello, big brother." She walked over and hugged him. "You needed to see me?"
"Yes." He kissed her forehead. "Come into the office so we may speak in private."
ZsaZsa looked around. "Are the walls listening now? There is no one here, LaVeré."
"I see you are learning to back talk your elders," he said as she followed him into the office.
"It was an attempt at humor, which you have been lacking for a while now." She placed her knapsack on one chair and sat in the other. "What has you worried?"
"I will be making a trip home and wondered if you would like to join me?"
"You are going home?" ZsaZsa sat up. "Has Father convinced you to return?"
"No. Someone I know needs my assistance. He will be going with me."
"You will return, yes?" She tried to suppress the concern in her voice.
"Of course I will. This is our home." He tilted his head. "Why are you concerned? Emure is your homeland. I am certain our parents would be pleased to see you."
"I would love to see Mother and Father, and Aswan. I have no interest in seeing Raheem."
"ZsaZsa. He did not do it to harm you."
"I do not wish to speak of it LaVeré. Did our parents order me to return to Emure? For I would never disrespect them."
"They did not. However, I believe this fear you have of your homeland is unhealthy."
"It is not my homeland, I fear. It is our brother." ZsaZsa exclaimed. “He had me kidnapped LaVeré, taken from the safety of my home. Everyone says I need to get past this, to move on, however, it is difficult when the culprit was a member of my own family. His reasons to me are not important. His actions caused harm that I fear cannot be repaired until the laws in our homeland are changed.”
"Very well. I do not know how long I will be home. Edmund can remain here with you."
"I have Nailah and Sabra, I will be fine." She stood, then picked up her knapsack. "When will you leave?"
"Later today," he said as he observed her move towards the door with her head down.
She stopped before leaving. "His reward was a wife and a country, much richer than our own." She looked directly into his eyes. "The King gave my brother a kingdom for his actions against me. Why was my life of so little value to them?" She shook her head. "You do not have to respond. I know you have questions of your own."
"I love you, my sister."
"The love you give is returned, my brother." She put the knapsack on her shoulder. "Give Mother my love."
"I will."
ZsaZsa smiled then walked out the door. There were times when she felt her only refuge was LaVeré. He understood why she could never have a permanent life in their homeland again.
Walking to the vehicle where her security team waited, she thought it was only fair to give them an opportunity to go home to visit their family.
“My brother is going to our homeland. I will be remaining, however, if either of you want to go home, you are free to do so.”
Nailah and Sabra glanced at each other.
“While I long to see my family,” Nailah spoke, “I will not abandon my position. I choose to remain here with you, my Princess.”
Sabra nodded in agreement. “It is not wise for us to part at this time. With the budding relationship between you and the young American, we cannot leave you unchaperoned.”
ZsaZsa smiled, almost blushed. Nailah and Sabra had been with her since she was a child. Both of them had been fully trained to protect her against enemies. The women were fierce and able to take down an army of men if necessary. One or both were around 24/7, however, they remained in the shadow’s unseen.
“Is your concern for me, or the time away from Elliott Thompson?” ZsaZsa teased. “I did not miss the flirtation happening between the two of you.”
“Nor did I,” Nailah added as they all got into the car.
“You speak as if you are not anxious to remain here with Edmund.” Sabra retorted. “Young Mr. Thompson is only a temporary interest. Unlike young Mr. Brooks. Did you speak with your brother regarding him?”
“No,” ZsaZsa replied. “It can wait until his return to the states.”