Chapter 17
SEVENTEEN
“To the city of Berkeley, I am honored to serve you. I will continue to hold the citizens near to my heart. You’ve given me the chance of a lifetime. I am forever indebted. My gratitude exceeds me. It is immeasurable. So is my love for this great city. There’s no place like home.
“To everyone who went out to the polls, whether you voted for me or my opponents, thank you for exercising your right. Your voice matters. To my team… we fought a good fight and were victorious. Thank you. To my family, your support hasn’t gone unnoticed. To the beautiful woman beside me–”
I paused. All eyes were on me. My eyes were on her. Royce was stunning in the black dress and long black boots that reached her thighs. She didn’t attempt to conceal her personality with boring ass fashion often displayed in political spaces.
“I couldn’t have done this without you, my baby. Thank you for believing in me. For being the stability I needed when the ship started rocking. Thank you for your thoughtfulness. Your will. Your dedication. Your drive. And, your unwavering spirit. We did it, love.”
A gentle squeeze from Royce was all the reassurance I needed.
“Have a blessed day, Berkeley.”
I took off toward the exit. Royce’s grip on my hand tightened as I slowed near the stairs, helping her down. I placed a hand on her waist once she’d made it on leveled ground. Together, we made our way out of the door.
The doors of the Rolls Royce parted. Royce slid inside. I settled beside her, leaving the cameras and questions behind. When the doors closed, the noise toned down.
“Ish.”
When Royce opened her mouth, it disappeared completely.
“Yes, my baby?”
“That was good. Really good.”
“I could spend the next three months without speaking another word.”
“I know, but it’s all been worth it.”
“I need something stiff. Is the plane stocked?”
She nodded. “Without question. The libations are waiting.”
I rested my left hand on her thigh as the wheels began to turn. It was the first week of November. In twenty-six days, Royce would be a year older. The election was behind me. I was ready to show Royce why she’d agreed to give me pieces of her that had never belonged to anyone else.
“I have something for you.”
Excitement was etched in her voice. She’d already given me the gift of a lifetime.
“Your presence alone is a gift, Royce. What more could you have for me?”
“Close your eyes.”
Her smile was bright. Her cheeks were fluffy. Her teeth were on full display. My baby was beautiful. There wasn’t a flaw present.
“You’re so fucking incred–”
“Close your eyes, Ishmael.”
“Okay.”
Sighing, I pressed my eyelids together. Silently, I was preparing to reimburse Royce for whatever she’d purchased me.
I didn’t want her spending her money. The moment I entered her life, she became my responsibility.
I wanted to provide for her. Fully. It didn’t matter that she could take care of herself.
I needed to take care of her. It brought me great joy to do so.
One.
Two.
Three.
Four.
An automatic timer sounded off in my head. Just before I reached the next number, Royce’s voice ended the count.
“Open them.”
I opened my eyes, finding a yellow gold Patek Philippe. The diamond dial was accented by emerald hour markers. The same diamonds marked the bezel and center links.
“How much do I owe you, my baby?”
“Nothing.”
“How much?”
“It’s a gift, Ish. A celebratory gift.”
“How much?”
“You’ve already settled your debt. It’s paid for with your two–”
“Still, how much?”
“One hundred and sixty.”
I nodded, knowing the watch had cost a pretty penny. My baby had done well. I loosened the Rolex and peeled it from my skin.
“I thought it fit you well.”
“You have exquisite taste, love.”
“I assume that means you like it?”
“It does. Thank you.”
She removed it from its case and slid it on my wrist. I admired the new piece while admiring the woman who’d gifted it. They were both one of a kind.
Time escaped us. It was passing us by rapidly. Thirty minutes felt like ten. Before Royce and I were comfortable in our seats, we were exiting the vehicle. I was the first on my feet. She took my hand, accepting my assistance as she slid to the edge of the seat.
“Well don’t you look darling?” Range greeted Royce with a hug.
“Thank you.”
“The boots are giving bad bitch energy,” Roulette claimed.
“Hi,” the youngest, Rome, greeted Royce, tossing her arms around her.
“Hey, Ro.”
“We should get going. Dinner is waiting,” the oldest suggested.
“Ish. I haven’t introduced you to the men in my family.”
I remembered one of them from last night. The others I was unfamiliar with.
“Israel, Roulette’s other half. He was with us last night. Psalms, Rugger’s husband. Priest, Rather’s husband. Saint, Rome’s fiancé.”
“What’s good?”
“Congratulations.”
“Welcome to the family.”
Psalms was silent. No introduction was needed. He was no stranger and neither was I. Though we’d never crossed paths, we never intended to. It was best in our line of work.
“Alright. Enough of the introductions. Let’s head up!” Rather instructed, taking Priest by the hand.”
“Ladies first,” he reminded her.
One after the other, the women took the stairs and entered the aircraft. I wasn’t the last to enter the spacious cabin. Neither was I the first of the men. I fell in between the assembly line, eventually getting back to my bit of peace. Back to her.
Pop!
Pop!
Roulette was the first to pop the iced champagne. Rather followed.
“Champagne?” Royce asked, holding an empty glass in my direction.
“Nah, my baby.”
“Something stronger?”
I nodded.
“Yeah.”
As the word left my mouth, a chilled glass of brown liquor was passed to me. Psalms tipped his head toward me and rejoined his wife just a few feet away. Her eyes were trained on me. So were his. I didn’t take offense to their curiosity. It was expected.
I observed as the women poured one glass after the other. Every male in the cabin declined the bubbly and opted for brown. It didn’t matter what kind of brown as long as it didn’t fizzle and pop.
Royce settled beside me, resting her back against the seat. Her legs crossed mine.
“Are you okay?”
“I’ve never been better.”
“What’s with that look?”
“What look?”
“That look.”
She pulled her lips into her mouth.
“Of adoration? Of contentment? Or admiration? Or obsession? Or utter allurement? Which one? Or are they all obvious?”
“Is that how you feel, Royce?”
She lifted her chin and then dropped it.
“It is.”
“Penny for your thoughts.”
The way her attention was undivided when I spoke drove me to the point of no return. Everyone around us vanished.
“I’m listening, my baby.”
I felt my cheeks rise and my smile attempt to touch my ears.
“I’m my baby, now?”
I loved to hear it roll off her tongue.
“Um hm.”
I sipped from my glass, choosing my words carefully. Once upon a time, I hadn’t been a man of many. But, between Royce and the race, I had been vomiting at the mouth for months.
“Are you happy? With me?”
I watched her inhale deeply. She released a shaky breath before swallowing.
“I’m my happiest with you.”
She paused, placing a hand on my cheek.
“I was lost, Ish. I knew I wanted something… someone. I just– I just didn’t know what or who.
I’m no regular girl. I struggled with the idea of someone being able to handle me.
I’m so accustomed to handling everything and everybody else.
Then you came. My connection to you was instant.
What I did for you the first night we met, I don’t–”
She shook her head.
“I’ve never done that for anyone. Not without payment first. Not unless they were kin to me.
Not unless I loved them. And, since that night, I’ve been wondering how it happened so fast. How my heart knew you were worthy of my love?
How I knew that you were someone special to me?
I haven’t found the answers, so I’ve decided to stop searching.
I don’t need an explanation for falling for the perfect stranger.
It was meant to be. That’s it. Nothing more. ”
“You’ve got my shit all fucked up, up here.”
I pointed to my chest.
“Nothing ever hurt and healed me at the same time like this.”
I cleared my throat, moving closer.
“You make me consider things I’ve never considered. Want things I’ve never wanted.”
“Care to elaborate?”
I hesitated, unsure if it was my heart or my head influencing me most.
“Ish.”
“I want to make you my wife, Royce. But, beyond our bond, I want to create another one. One that continues our love and our legacies. Someone to inherit my fortune.”
“Baby–”
“Lately I’ve been feeling differently. Feeling like I can’t spend all of this shit while I’m here. And, I can’t take this shit to the grave with me. I want hands to put it in. Hands that resemble mine. And yours. I want to make you a wife, my baby. But, just as much, I want to make you a mother.”
The silent stare was torturous.
“Words, Royce.”
“Okay.”
“Okay?”
“Yes.”
“That simple?”
“Whatever you want, Ish.”
“But what do you want?”
“To make you happy.”
“My baby, will that make you happy, though?”
“I’ve dreamt of your eyes on my son’s face. Your lips on my daughter. I’ve never considered myself as the motherly type. But, just like you’ve been feeling things– I’ve been feeling things too. I’ve never wanted a child. Yet, I want yours.”
“Yeah?”
She nodded. “Yes.”
“How many?”
“One.” She chuckled, scrunching her nose.
“They’ll need someone to play with. You know… so they’re not lonely.”
“You’re pushing it.”
“You had six.”
“You’re right. I couldn’t imagine life as an only child.”
“Two.”
“Two,” she agreed.
“If it happens. No pressure.”
“No pressure.”
“A wife first.”
“A few years of marriage?”
“Agreed.”
“When we’re ready to try, it has to be communicated.”
I nodded. “Agreed.”
“Only then will I remove my birth control.”
It wasn’t until that moment that I realized she never answered my question.
“Has that been our lifesaver all this time?”