Chapter 15 #2
“You will make it,” I assure her. “And Reya will love that.”
She helps me with the glasses for the adults, Reya’s drink, and the bowl of fruit slices. Niya is already drinking her virgin sangria and smiling when I walk in with the tray.
“Thanks,” Reya says when I hand her a glass.
“You’re welcome. Are you done?” I ask because she’s sitting at the table with Tameka.
“With the suya blend so they can season the steaks and fish, yes. I’m going to help you with the vegetables because there are a lot.”
“I think I got it.”
“You haven’t seen the bags yet,” Reya says.
“Mommie, we got the same drink,” Niya says excitedly.
“We sure do, sweetie. Let’s toast,” Reya says and Niya carefully walks toward Reya with her drink. While they toast, I fill two glasses with fruit and ice.
“Alami, you and your friend can have some if you like. It’s mostly wine, it’s the holiday, and no one is driving. Hell, you’re probably already drinking at school anyway,” Shuga says and they rush over to me. I prepare all four glasses then join Reya at the table.
“How much chopping do we have to do for real?” I ask.
“Girl, you’ve been around these Bakos long enough to know they eat a lot. However much you’re imagining, double it,” she says, then grins.
“We need to grab Sade and make her come help us,” I say and Shuga obviously hears me.
“She’s fine exactly where she is,” Shuga says. Reya and I both raise our eyebrows, silently communicating what we’re thinking.
What’s up with Sade and why does it seem like Shuga’s not too fond of her?
“See,” I finally mutter.
“I know, right? Weird,” Reya mutters back.
After taking a sip of sangria, I walk to the large, glass door fridge for the veggies.
Reya is right, there’s a shit ton: four stalks of celery, a three-pound bag of onions, too many tri-color packs of bell peppers, and a bag of tomatoes.
Reya and I spend the next hour and a half chopping.
We lose Niya thirty minutes in when her dad takes her downstairs to her room.
Tameka and Alami, half tipsy off two glasses of sangria each, go downstairs thirty minutes after Niya.
Twon’s girlfriend joins us only long enough to get a glass and Sade never shows her face.
By the time we are done chopping, Shuga has cleaned the greens, so we cut those next while she makes two large pans of cornbread for the dressing in the morning. We are having the traditional turkey, dressing, greens, and macaroni cheese along with Zongo, suya fish, and suya beef.
Around one o’clock, we cover everything up, clean the kitchen, then retire to our rooms. Since Shiro is still outside with his brothers, I take a hot bath, moisturize my body, slide into a cami and shorts then light the stacked-stone gas fireplace under the mounted television.
I’m just getting comfortable in bed when Shiro walks in.
He kisses me passionately, then pulls the covers back.
After dragging his eyes down my body, he says, “I like this but take it off. When I get out of the shower, I’m keeping my promise.”
After pulling the covers back up to my neck, I say sternly,. “And I’m keeping mine.”
Needless to say, I lied. As soon as he walks out of the bathroom in nothing but the midnight skin God blessed him with, I cave… all the damn way. The covers and my clothes are off in seconds, and thankfully, he keeps his promise.
As soon as we made it to our suite at the Four Seasons, we crashed.
Between our delicious Thanksgiving dinner, family karaoke, eleven hours of traveling, nine in the air and two on land, and the time difference, we were exhausted.
So worn out that we did not open our eyes until after noon, journeying to the double shower and taking turns washing each other.
Our shower was about thirty minutes ago, and now, we are on the balcony off from the living area, enjoying the beautiful views of the Pacific Ocean and the formal sculpture garden. When he promised me paradise for my birthday, he meant it.
“I can’t believe we left cold weather yesterday and now we’re in this amazing seventy-three degree paradise,” I utter as I lean back on his chest. We’re sharing one of the two chaise lounges on the balcony.
“Paradise for a queen. Ain’t that’s how it should be?”
“When the queen has a true king, it is. Thank you.” Three knocks on the door cause us both to sit up.
“The food,” I utter and he taps my leg to stand.
“I can let them in. Don’t move,” I insist before walking into the suite.
I direct the server toward the balcony and he sets our trays on the table.
“Thank you,” I tell him as Shiro signs the receipt.
“Mahalo,” he says before walking inside and letting himself out.
Since we didn’t get to enjoy our beautiful welcome gift of local flowers, a bottle of champagne, and small fruit and cheese tray and missed the breakfast provided with our suite, we ordered lunch. I’m hungry, but not for something heavy. The rich foods from yesterday seem to still be with me.
After Shiro finishes his smash burger and sweet potato fries and I eat most of my Kula grilled chicken and strawberry salad, we leave the balcony to get ready for our first day on the big island. Still a little jet lagged, we settle for just exploring the resort.