by Shelby Clark
Dee signaled El to get the car as they all tried to get through the crowd.
Chapter Twelve
Déjà vu
“TC, did you clear it with your doctor to see if you could fly this long distance?” Dee asked.
“Yes, I did, Ms. Mother Hubbard. I also changed my doctor, and she cleared me. Baby and I are fine. I just don’t know about the daddy,” TC stated softly.
“Look, can you two be quiet so I can hear the captain make his announcements please. You know how I feel about flying,” El said.
An elderly lady sitting horizontally across from El grabbed her hand. “It’s ok, sweetie. I’ll hold your hand. You don’t have to be afraid.” El tried to withdraw her hand, but the elderly lady had a strong grip. “I’m good, grandma. You don’t have to.”
“I have you,” the elderly lady insisted.
El turned to Dee and TC. “Got damn this lady has grip. She just messed up my orgasm.”
Dee and TC burst into laughter. Dee continued. “That’s what she gets for being so frisky. Anyway, did you leave him a note, TC? Did you tell him how you feel? What about the baby?”
TC responded, “I couldn’t take the note to his house so I overnight mailed it to him. I also sent him an email, but I haven’t heard from him. I didn’t mention the baby because I think that’s something that should be heard in person.”
“Hurry up before the captain makes his announcements for cell phones to be turned off. Call him now, If you don’t get an answer then leave him a message,” Dee encouraged her.
TC listened to the phone and then clicked to the voice mail. “Hi, babe, it’s me. I’ve been trying to get in contact with you. I’m on a plane headed to Ethiopia. I have no time to talk. I want to see you when I return in one week. Please, Seth, I love you. Good-bye. Aw, Dee, it’s probably too late for us. We’ve been apart for almost three months. That’s a long time. What if he met someone else, and I’m carrying his babe?”
Dee replied, “Na, I don’t believe that. When you love somebody as much as he loves you, you can’t let go just like that. Besides he was still sending you gifts. So think of something else for now. How long did you say this flight was?”
TC answered, “It’s only 7,742.2 miles, and it takes sixteen hours and five minutes to get to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. However, this flight is going to be a two-day trip, so it will be something like nineteen to twenty hours give or take. Meaning we will have a layover and one stop. We’ll first fly to Miami and arrive at about eight at night. We have to stay there at a hotel and be back at the airport by four in the afternoon the next day. Then, from Miami we fly to Frankfurt. This will take a little over four hours. We will arrive just after seven in the morning. We then make our last stop so the plane can gas up. We leave close to noon and head to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. We will arrive there after nine at night. We are staying in a palace like royalty. Can you believe that? After all I’ve been through in my life. I am a real princess. Seth called me precious. He called me his queen.”
“Damn TC, this plane trip is a lot. You sure you’re up for this?” Dee inquired. “Before you answer, how much is your pops kicking out for this trip? Ok, go, because you said a mouth full explaining the distance of this trip.”
“I know that was a lot, but yes, I’m good. That’s why we’re going to stay at a hotel, and my father has arranged everything for us. I like saying that. My father has arranged for a car to pick us up to and from the hotel, and when we arrive at each and every destination. I also looked it up, and the total trip cost is $38,392.47, and that’s because he wanted us to fly first class. He said in that letter that he regrets missing out on my life, and I should be treated like royalty because I am.”
El spotted the driver once they arrived off the airbus “Look, there’s our driver holding the card with TC’s name on it.”
“Princess Casey, I presume?” the driver asked as he bowed. “Yes, that’s me, and my guests,” TC answered. They all entered limousine, and the driver headed to the palace. A partition was lowered inside the limo.
“Your Highness, we will be at the palace in about forty-five minutes. We will be escorted by the authorities as a safety precaution. It is our protocol. Do not be alarmed Your Highness. “What is he saying?” TC yawned. “I’m so sleepy, I can’t keep my eyes open.”
“Girl, you are not by yourself. We’re all tired, but go ahead and go to sleep, TC. We will wake you when we arrive,” Dee encouraged her.
* * * *
A hard knock at the door startled TC causing her to wake up. She jumped to her feet and started running back and forth. “Oh my god, where is it, where is it? It coming up.” She hurled into a nearby basket. “Aw man, I hope nobody needs that. This morning sickness is for the birds.” The knocking continued, and she groaned. “Come in, come in.”
A young girl entered with clothes made of the prettiest fabric and bowed down to the floor before TC. “Princess Casey, your father wishes to see you in the garden when you’ve had time to prepare yourself. He wishes for you to come alone.”
TC grabbed her hand. “Get up. You don’t have to bow before me.”
The girl snatched her hand away and dropped to the floor again. “Oh no, Your Highness, it is tradition and law to bow before royalty. Your Highness I will be your translator during your stay. Please don’t get me punished.”
TC jumped back. “Oh, I’m sorry. I meant no harm. What is your name?”
The girl answered, “Servant.”
“No, what is your real name, the name you were born with?”
The girl hesitated. “It’s … It’s Tyese.”
“Well you can call me Casey.”
“Is that all, Princess Casey?”
TC responded. “Yes, thank you.”
TC was escorted to the gardens to meet her father for the first time in her life. She observed her surroundings as she walked. This year has really thrown me for loop. Never in my wildest dreams would I have imagined that all this would have happened to me. My baby is being born into wealth and education on both sides of his family. I hope I have a son, so he can be just like his father and grandfather, two strong and powerful men in leadership.
TC entered the gardens, a maze of all sorts of beautiful flowers. “Princess Casey, I present you to Prince Zera Yacob Amha Selassid, Crown Prince of Ethiopia,” the servant announced bowing while exiting.
“Hello, at last we meet, my daughter. I know you have a lot of questions for me, but let’s start by taking a walk, and you listen to all I have to say. If you still have questions, I will answer them then,” Prince Selassie suggested.
TC agreed. “That’s fine with me.”
“We will start with some history about me. I too am a man of education. I attended and graduated from Eton College, Exeter College, and Oxford University. I was named Acting Crown Prince and Heir Presumptive to the Imperial throne of Ethiopia in 1974 by your great grandfather. He was Emperor Haile Selassie. He and his father both died at the cause of a severe stroke. There was a fall in the Ethiopian monarchy. We won’t go into that, a lot of political mumbo-jumbo. You understand what I am saying, correct?” Prince Selassie asked.
“Yes, father,” TC answered with a smile.
“Father. I like that. You are a true princess. Royalty is definitely in your blood, and you were born into this lineage. As I was saying, in the mid-seventies I completed my studies at Oxford, and I then went on to briefly work as a banker in the United States.”
“I met your mother, Corrine Shaw. We fell in love. We spent every moment we had together. I knew that I was her first love, but then something tragic happened. I got so involved that I forgot who I was. I was a prince and an heir. By this time I did not care anymore. You see I was promised to someone else. My parents kept tabs on me for my own safety without me knowing. They found out about your mother. They had her sent away. They made me go to London where they were waiting for me. I was so hurt, and I knew your mother was devastated. I learned later just how much.<
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“I did not have the will to stand up to my parents. Back then you did not break tradition. You obeyed it. I found out later that she was pregnant. My parents reprimanded me and told me I was to have no contact with Corrine or the baby. So I followed orders. I was married and had a daughter, Princess Lideta Zera Yacob. You will eventually meet her. You also have a brother who is my heir-presumptive, Prince Wossen Seged, Duke of Harrar.
“But being married and having a daughter just constantly reminded me of Corrine and the baby. This drove a wedge between me and my wife, so we divorced years later. Of course when times started changing and tradition wasn’t as traditional, I knew I had to find you. After years passed and my father died, I took my rightful place as head of the Imperial Family of Ethiopia and moved back to Addis Ababa.
“To this day I still love your mother. I wish I was able to change her life, but she was too far gone. I felt responsible for it turning out the way it did. I went to visit her when she was in the hospital. I made peace with her, but I still blame myself. Do you have any questions for me?”
“I did, Father, but you answered all of them. I also want to say that I waited for what seemed like an eternity to see you and to meet you, just to call you Father. But my mother told me you died. I guess so I would never seek you out or anyone else for that matter. My mother loved you so much, but hated you just the same. She always said you dropped her like a hot potato as soon as you found out she was pregnant.”
“No, I did not know she was pregnant. My parents found out and they informed me later. But I was determined to find you. I hired investigators to search for you. I located you when you were sixteen years old. I could not come into the States for political reasons, so I set up a trust fund for college and anything you may have need of. I remained anonymous for your safety. There are people who want my throne at any cost, so I did not want word to get out about Princess Casey Tylia Shaw Zera Yacob, my daughter living in the States. Nevertheless, this is like déjà vu.”
“What does?” TC asked.
“You! This whole situation that we are faced with reminds me of déjà vu.”
TC was puzzled. “Ok, I don’t understand what you mean.”
Prince Selassie replied, “Princess Casey, how far are you? Are you not with child?”
TC flushed while trying to think how to answer. Oh my god, my baby was conceived out of wedlock. What should I say?
“Casey, it’s ok. There’s no more judgment here. You are ok, and besides I know everything. I made it my business to keep tabs on you too for your protection,” Prince Selassie explained.
“Everything?”
“How many times you want me to say it?” Prince Selassie mocked.
She challenged her father’s facts. “Just how much do you know?”
The prince answered, “Should we discuss Rio de Janeiro?”
“Ok, Father.” TC dropped her head with shame.
“No. Don’t ever do that. Never lower your head in shame. You are of royalty. You are a princess. Whether you are right or wrong, you hold your head up high. You have to teach this to your child.”
“But Father, how did you know I was expecting?” TC asked.
“I knew when you arrived. Your friends, who by the way are having a grand time on a shopping spree, were wearing spiked heels, and you weren’t. Your friends both are wearing tight fitting clothes, and you are not. I am a very observant person. I have to be aware of my surroundings at all times. Also, I hear you running to and from the bathroom, and vomiting a lot. When you arrived your friends were still awake, and you had to be carried to your room. You made me nervous there for a second. I thought something else was wrong with you. So am I right?”
“Yes, sir. You’re right.”
Prince Selassie continued. “You also have that look in your eyes, the look of love. I see it. It reminds me of your mother and I. Do you love the father?”
“Yes! I really do.”
“Did you tell him?”
“Yes and no. I tried to, but I couldn’t reach him. Now I’m afraid I might be too late, and I’m in another country so far away.” TC began to sob.
“Now, now, princesses shouldn’t cry. I know it’s hard for you because you’re so emotional right now, but I understand.”
I know who the baby’s father is.”
TC all of a sudden felt a large knot in her throat and a little anger for the lack of privacy. “You do? Do you really have to be all up in my business? I’m not used to this.”
“Princess Casey, listen to your father. I missed out on so much in your life. You are my love child. I thought I would never have the opportunity to say that. When I look at you I see your mother all over again, and the memories of our love comes to life again. So I’m not allowing anyone or anything to hinder me ever again from being in your life. One more thing. I think your child’s father is an awesome man. I met him. He’s strong and very knowledgeable. A man after my own ways. You chose well. If you love him then be with him. Don’t let anything stand in the way of that. I was of royalty and your mother was common in the eyes of my parents and our traditions, but in my eyes, Corrine was more pure than any other royal. Do you want to be with him?”
“Yes, Father, I do!” TC replied.
“I am so glad you said that because I would have been in trouble, but I had a feeling. Besides, Rio proved that,” the prince said.
“Why?” TC asked.
“Turn around, here comes your professor, your prince. I arranged for him to be with you. I called him, and I told Seth who I was and that you would be here. Go to him. We must prepare for a wedding,” Prince Selassie instructed. Wait. What? A wedding? What the hell… I’m so not used to this man intruding in my life, TC growled to herself.
She turned and saw Seth, ran to him, and jumped into his arms.
“Careful, babe,” Seth commanded gently as he caressed TC.
Her eyes filled with tears. “Oh my god, babe, oh my god. I can’t believe you’re here! I love you so much. I thought I would never see you again,” TC exclaimed.
Seth picked TC up to carry her to a nearby lawn chair setup with an umbrella for shade. “Look, calm yourself. I don’t want you to get so worked up. It’s not good for your condition.”
TC looked at Seth with surprise. He grinned in response. “Yes, I know. You’re carrying our baby. When I found out I thought I was going to implode. I was ecstatic, but I was also angry because you didn’t tell me.”
“I stopped by the university’s free clinic. I was talking to one of the nurses for some advice for one of my male students. The doctor had his door open, and I overheard Dr. Wells on the telephone asking to speak with Casey Tylia Shaw. At first I wasn’t listening until I heard your name, and then he said those magic words. I will never forget those words. He said Ms. Shaw your test returned back positive, and based on your last menstrual your should be about ten weeks. When I heard that, I froze. My eyes got big, and I was stunned. Babe, you know me. I don’t go down that easy, but that caught me off guard.”
TC laughed. “Then what happened?”
“The nurse realized I was listening and ran to shut the door because they had a breach of privacy, but by that time I ran out of there. When I got home I waited to see if you would call me. I was so excited. Then I never heard from you, and I started thinking all sorts of crazy things.”
TC frowned. “Things like what, babe? I’m listening.”
Seth cleared his throat. “Umm, well things like if the baby was mine or not. But I got myself together because I counted back the weeks and realized that’s when we were together. I also thought about ….”
“About what?” TC asked.
Seth leaned over to TC and whispered in her ear. “How I broke you in, babe. That was sheer delight for me.”
“And don’t you ever forget that,” TC commanded laughing.
“Babe, and you never came. You didn’t even call or anything. So I couldn’t go to your graduation. I couldn’t see you knowin
g you were carrying my child. I didn’t know if you wanted me to know, but I did watch you on the tele-web. Then this man showed up at my house, and said he was a representative of your father. He then pulled out this laptop and had me to speak to your father via Skype. Your father told me everything. I knew he was legit because of the things you shared with me. He said I needed to be here if I really love you.
“He said you and I are déjà vu of him and your mother. He said that he still misses your mother, and you and I should never let anything come between real love. I was on board with that. I told your father my family has our own private jet, and I will be there as soon as possible.”
TC gently pushed Seth back. “Wait, all this is happening so fast. My head is spinning. Did he say marriage? I mean marriage, marriage, like to say ‘I do’? Why is he trying to arrange our marriage? I mean I understand, but shouldn’t that be between you and I?” TC questioned.
Seth fell to his knee and pulled out a colossal sized diamond ring. “Yes, it should, so let me correct this. TC, no. Wait, I’m sorry. Let me restart. Princess Casey, babe, I told you that I was not going anywhere and that I wanted to be with you forever. I want you to bare all my children. I never want to be away from you again. Will you marry me?”
TC jumped on Seth’s neck. “Yes, yes, man, yes!” She held her hand out to admire her ring after he slipped onto her finger.
“Babe, you think we can get away to have a little quickie? You look and smell so good.” Seth grinned.
A servant walked over to hand Seth and TC a note. “What does it say?” TC asked.
“It says, ‘You’ve tasted the wine and already sampled the fruit. We will have none of that until after the wedding. Love Father.’”
“What? How does he do that? He knows too much. He’s even a little on the creepy side. I guess if you were born and raised in this type of culture, you would be used to it.” TC laughed.
