by Shelby Clark
TC looked some distance toward the palace and saw Prince Selassie holding a glass of wine raising a cheer with a smile toward them.
* * * *
After the ceremony, TC addressed her father while preparing to leave for the plane. “Father, when will I see you again? I just found you. I don’t want to leave you.”
“You will see me soon. Princess Casey, I am always with you. I will come to you if you are ever in need. Besides, I will be there for the birth of my first grandchild. Your place is with your husband now, and may I say so myself, you two make a lovely couple. I have also taken the liberty to talk to your husband about some political matters. He will explain it to you on the way home. Safe travels, my dear.” Prince Selassie saluted them.
Seth, TC, Dee, and El all entered the limo. All the servants, about three hundred stood before the limo and bowed down to the ground to wish them farewell in unison in their native tongue.
“What did they say,” TC asked. Tyese, TC’s translator, ran to the limo to touch TC’s hand. “ They said safe travels, Princess Casey, and God speed.”
Later, on Seth’s large private jet, TC and Seth laid in each other’s arms reminiscing about their wedding. “Don’t you think we should be out there with my sisters?” TC asked.
“Babe, I waited a long time to ride the waves of your natural juices, and your sisters know our honeymoon started when we said I do. They have everything they need to entertain themselves. If they get sleepy, the chairs convert to beds, and there are blankets and pillows in the storage cabinets. Besides, there’s no more room for us. All their packages and clothes are all over the place because all of it wouldn’t fit in cargo storage. So I’m going to take this time and my time to entertain my wife. I love you, babe.”
“I love you too,” TC said smiling.
Seth ran his hand up and down TC’s body. “That’s what I love to see, you smile. I promise to keep you smiling for the rest of our lives.”
“Babe, you know my father made a lot of sacrifices for me. I say that because traditionally marriages are arranged by parents of the bride and groom, with a great deal of negotiation. Also the bride must be a virgin when the marriage takes place. Virginity is highly valued in his culture. The parents also investigate five generations between the bride and groom’s families to establish that there are no blood lines between the two families. They want to make sure that there are no relations. There is also a mediator who is sent to the would-be bride’s parents. Then the bridge’s parents impose conditions. The mediator takes the message to the groom’s parents. After that the preparations are initiated if conditions are met. That’s when an engagement date is set. My father dismissed a lot for me.
“So tell me, what is the political issue that my father discussed with you?” TC demanded.
“First let me say this, he did not dismiss all of his culture and traditions because he arranged our wedding.”
“Yes, true, but that angered me a little. I felt like he was smothering me and taking over.”
“He arranged for me to be with you. It also proves his love for your mother, so you should never question that ever again.”
“Well, I’m happy he brought us together, but it would take a whole lot of getting used to his aggressive control.”
“But, concerning your father and I, well don’t be alarmed. Everything is ok, but your father didn’t think it would be safe for you or the baby to remain in Ethiopia. He charged me to keep you safe. There will be some men who work for your father who will always be nearby to watch over us,” Seth explained.
“I don’t want any men following or watching over us,” she protested.
“Now, babe, don’t start. This is how it is now. You have to accept it. After all you’re a princess. Maybe a spoiled one, but you’re still my princess. So we will not be returning to the States. We will send for our things, and I have arranged for an agent to assist me in selling my house. We are going back to Rio to live. Rio is not that much safer either, but it is where we became one. It’s where our child was conceived. Also, you said you could live there. This is why your father is sending protection. Besides, my family is flying down to meet you.
TC hit Seth with the pillow, causing the covers to fall off of her and exposing her body.
“Aw, that is so awesome,” Seth said in wonder. He stared at her belly bump due to her pregnancy. “Look at your stomach. It’s growing.” Seth started kissing her stomach. “One more thing, babe. I have to tell you something else. Your father told me there was a clause in your trust. He said the clause stated that once you were married you would be entitled to the full worth of the trust. Guess what it’s worth, babe.”
“I don’t know… what… thousands, millions?”
“No, babe, hold on to your panties.”
“I don’t have any panties on. How much?”
“Try three hundred million dollars. Plus he added another five million as your dowry. “See, now I’m pissed. Why the hell. Sorry, but why the heck wasn’t I included in this conversation? You two were talking about my money. I’m a grown ass woman that has been taking care of myself. See my father is so lucky I’m on this plane. I would drive this plane myself and turn it around to let him know that I am an American. This is not how we do things. I don’t need him…”
“Babe, listen first before you take over the plane and go invade your father’s country,” Seth replied laughing.
“I’m not laughing, Seth.”
“I know, babe, and I hear you. I even suggested to your father that he bring you into the room, but he still operates under some of his traditions. He said, not me, he said that this was the duty of your husband and father. So let it go. He also stated that your grandmother set your trust up. She was trying to compensate you for the years she destroyed your family as well as for the pain and suffering you incurred.”
TC fainted back onto the pillow. Seth jumped to her. “Babe, are you ok?”
TC opened her eyes with a smile. “Yes, I’m just absorbing all the bliss. I want you to lay here beside me as we look out the window and watch the sunset, while I dream about the proposal, the wedding, the music and dancing, the ensembles we wore, my father and how he accepted me, and how he changed his traditions just for me. I love him even more for that, even though I don’t quite except all his ways.”
A tear rolled down TC’s cheek. “I want to dream about our new life together and our baby, how he’s going to look, and most of all I want to dream about how we first met, the first time we made love in Rio, and all that took place at the lagoon. Wow, I can hardly believe all this, so much unexpected love. Hold me tight, babe.”
“I have you, babe. I have you,” Seth comforted her.
The two of them continued holding each other watching the sunset until they fell asleep in each other’s arms.
The End
About the Author
Shelby Clark is a native of Maryland, married for fourteen wonderful years to the love of her life, and has four children. She is new to the art of writing but believes she has what it takes to inspire her readers. She has always been a romantic at heart, and this is the tool that has motivated her to write interracial romance. She is looking forward to writing many books to not only please, but to stimulate her readers. Visit her on the web at: jamocharomanceink.blogspot.com.
Table of Contents
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
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