Prissy softened. “Calm down… Calm down and don’t even think about crying. Austin took the girls to the country to a Christmas tree farm to pick out and cut down a tree. I took care of their shopping list online on Black Friday. Everything’s here and safely stored at my house. Besides, Bear sent a tractor trailer full of shit. We decorated the house and baked cookies last night while you were sleep. Austin and I are hosting Christmas dinner… So, basically you are all set.”
“Oh thank God! I’d never forgive myself if they had a shitty Christmas because of me! Thank you so much Priss! You are a God Send from the clouds of Heaven!” EJ exclaimed.
“You know that you don’t have to thank me. You’re my sister and I’ll always have your back, no matter what.”
“Question…” EJ asked as she exited the shower and dried off. “So, why did you come over here being all melodramatic and shit… Acting like I slept through Christmas… Scaring me half to death?”
Prissy giggled. “Hey… I just wanted to get your ass out of bed and into the damn shower! You were looking a hot ass mess and frankly you were beginning to stink up the place!
EJ laughed. “Yeah, well that sure did it!”
“EJ it’s Christmas… Just make up with him. You know you love him. And I’m sure the girls will adore him when they finally get a chance to meet him. Besides…”
“Don’t even think it, let alone say it, because it’s not going to happen.” EJ warned.
“Oh come on EJ! You know this is the perfect solution. I can’t break their hearts five years from now and tell them that their father is dead. I just can’t do it and in retrospect I wish we’d never even concocted this stupid ass lie. Least if you marry Prince Fabre′ they’ll have a dad and it won’t hurt so damn bad. You trust him with them don’t you?”
EJ sighed. “Yeah. I trust him. Armani would make a great dad.”
“Then go and get him back. If not for you then for your daughters.”
“Prissy I can’t and you know I can’t” EJ whined. “Please don’t make me grovel back to him. I’d rather take a bath in kerosene and set my own ass on fire than to face Armani after the things I said to him.”
“Look… I don’t need to know what was said and why… Hell, I don’t even care what happened. I just need to know this… Did he physically hurt you?”
“No of course no! Armani is a kind and gentle man.”
“Okay, did he cheat on you?”
“No… He never cheated on me.”
“Then I’m going to assume by default that he lied to you about something. Correct?” EJ eyes welled with tears as she simply nodded, yes. “Okay, it’s alright. Don’t start crying, because I have one more question that I need you to answer.” Prissy said as she wiped the tears from the corners of EJ eyes. “EJ do you still love him.”
EJ burst into tears. Apparently that was the question that broke her resolve. “Yes, almost as much as I love you and my girls.” She sobbed. “Prissy I screwed up by ending things with him. I know that now, but I also know that it’s too late for apologies and regrets. That man is a billionaire. He can have any woman in the world. I’m sure he’s moved on.”
“Yes, Prince Fabre′ is a billionaire that can date almost any woman he chooses, but you’re wrong. He hasn’t moved on, because he’s in love with you.” Prissy said as she comforted her sobbing friend. “Don’t worry EJ. God has a way of making everything work in your favor. I don’t think we’ve seen the last of Prince Fabre′.”
~*~*~
EJ’s stubborn pride would not allow her to make the first move to reconcile with Armani, but nothing was standing in Prissy’s way. While EJ went outside to get the mail Prissy used her house phone to call the prince. He answered on the very first ring.
“EJ, I’m so glad you called. I’m sorry! Can we meet somewhere so I can explain?”
“Hi, Prince Fabre′, I’m Parisa Crown EJs sister although you probably know me as Prissy. Can we meet instead?”
“I don’t understand, Prissy… Where is EJ? Is she okay?”
“Yeah… EJ’s a little heartbroken but she’s okay. Look I really don’t have much time. She doesn’t know that I’m calling. Meet me in front of EJ’s office in one hour.”
“Okay… I’ll be there.” He quickly conceded.
“I have a red Mercedes truck. We’ll talk then.”
One hour later a stretch limousine pull behind Prissy’s truck. The driver got out an escort Prissy to the limo to talk to Prince Fabre′. Prissy knew that Prince Armani looked almost exactly like Paul except for a few minor details. Still nothing prepared her for what she discovered when they finally met face to face.
EJ deliberately kept Armani from coming to her home, for obvious reasons, so Prissy never once met the prince until now. As she climbed in the back of the limo to meet him she was completely stunned to find that Armani was an exact clone of her twin brother. So much so that Prissy couldn’t even speak. Emotions she had suppressed for so long bubbled up inside her and prompted her to burst into tears. Flinging herself in the Paul look alike arms Prissy sobbed like a baby for her deceased brother.
Armani was shocked at her display of emotions to say the least, but he held her close and comforted her in his arms. “It’s going to be okay, Prissy. Please stop crying. Just tell me what is wrong.”
Unfortunately, just the sound of his voice speaking those particular worlds made her cry even harder. Now Armani had a distinct French accent and his voice was much deeper than Paul’s, but in her spirit Prissy heard Paul’s voice speaking those words of comfort. She clanged to him tightly until her sobbing finally subsided. Armani was patient and allowed it.
When Prissy finally recovered she explained to Armani the reason for her emotional outburst. Armani was shocked to find out that he was a mind bobbling replica of EJ’s ex-boyfriend. He found it a bit unsettling and confusing, but it all made sense. EJ mentioned Paul in passing, but she never once spoke of the girls. Armani instinctively knew that it was just too painful and private for her to share.
In retrospect he understood why she got so upset about the surveillance photos and video she found. Armani held back from her as well. He never told EJ about the sex dreams that he had about her. He was afraid that she’d think that he was crazy. Now, more than ever he was convinced that he could never tell her. It was just too damn weird. Still, he confided in Prissy everything including the dreams and the search for EJ.
Prissy was floored by what Armani revealed to her, but she was convinced that divine forces were in play. She knew in her hearts heart that Armani was the man for EJ. The two quickly formulated an elaborate plan to get them back together as soon as possible. All they needed was a little more divine magic to make it all come together, so that everyone would have a merry Christmas.
Chapter 29 EJ
The hard kick in the teeth and the swift kick in the ass that Prissy delivered to EJ that day gave her the incentive to paint on a brave face and pull her act together for the sake of her daughters. Although her heart and her koochie ached for Armani she painted on a pretty face and a beautiful smile and ventured across the street to have dinner at Prissy’s.
The girls were so excited they could hardly contain themselves. Their list for Santa was as long and wide as the Mississippi River and between their grandparents, Aunt Prissy and Uncle Teddy it was filled to the letter. Usually EJ would discourage Prissy and Teddy from spoiling the girls so lavishly, but she felt guilty about almost sleeping through Christmas. So, against her better judgment, this year she allowed it. Prissy even had the audacity to contract a Santa to visit them after dinner.
Dinner could not be over quick enough as far as Paris and Parisa were concern. They gobbled their food down as quickly as possible in anticipation of their after dinner surprise. The clock struck eight o’clock and the doorbell magically rang. As if on cue, Austin opened the door announced that Paris and Parisa had a visitor. The twins raised to the front door discover a giant of a man dressed like S
anta Claus and a host of elves carrying a mountain of gifts.
“Ho, Ho, Ho! Merry Christmas!” Santa greeted them. “Who do we have here? Don’t tell me you must be Parisa and you must be Paris.” Santa said as he swooped the girls up, one in each arm.
Paris giggled. “No Santa! I’m Paris and she’s Parisa!”
“We twins but we don’t always look alike.” Parisa chimed in.
“Santa knows… He was just kidding around. Ho, Ho, Ho! Merry Christmas. If you aren’t the two prettiest girls Santa has ever seen.”
“Say thank you girls. Santa just paid you a compliment.” EJ reminded them as the humungous Santa took a seat holding one girl on his knee.
“Thank you Santa.” The twins sheepishly chimed in unison.
“Santa did you bring us a gift?” Paris asked.
“Paris that’s rude.” Parisa scolded.
Santa chuckled. “It’s okay Parisa. I don’t mind. Yes! In fact all these gifts are for you girls. Santa checked his list twice and found that you two have been surprisingly nice.”
The girls giggled as they gave each other a high five. “But Santa… What about our other gift?” Paris asked and Parisa cosigned.
“I’m afraid Santa is getting old and forgetful. Whisper in Santa’s ear and tell Santa what you want and Santa will make sure you get it before Christmas ends tomorrow. Ho! Ho! Ho! Merry Christmas.”
Parisa looked at Paris and then reluctantly whispered something in Santa’s ear. Santa bit his bottom lip and nodded his head slowly as the girls took turns whispering in his ear. No one knew what they asked for but EJ could tell by the way Santa kept looking in her direction that it had something to do with her. Santa’s expression quickly changed and the jolly Santa was now sad.
“Ho! Ho! Ho! Merry Christmas! Let me talk to mommy for a second and Santa will see what he can do.”
EJ looked at Prissy who was wiping tears from her eyes. She instantly knew that the girls had asked for Santa to bring their dad home to visit. Tears flooded her eyes as well as she backed into the dining room so that the girls wouldn’t see her crying. Santa followed.
“Look, I already know what they asked you. What you don’t know is that their father died seven years ago.” EJ explained with her back turned to Santa, never bothering to turn around to look at him.
“I know, Prissy told me. So, get them a new one!” Santa’s sultry, sexy voice replied as he touched EJ on her shoulders and turned her to face him.
Santa’s voice cut through the very marrow of EJ’s soul. It was Armani. “Armani?” She whispered as she took a closer look at the professionally stuffed and costumed Santa. “Is that you?”
Armani pulled his long, silver beard down so that EJ could see his handsome face and his sexy smile. “Yeah… It’s me.”
“What are you doing here?” She whispered so the girls couldn’t hear her form the other room.
“Prissy invited me to come, but that’s not why I’m here. I’m here because I love you, EJ. This past week without you has been the worst week in my life. EJ I’m so sorry that I lied to you, but I had to. I didn’t know what else to do. You left before I could explain. I would have told you the truth but I didn’t want you to think that I was crazy. I swear before God that’s the only reason I didn’t tell you the truth earlier.”
“So tell me the truth now. Why did you have me under investigation? Did you think I wanted you for your money? What? Did you think I was cheating on you? Huh?”
“Damn this is a lot harder than Santa anticipated it would be.” Armani nervously chuckled.
“I hope Santa didn’t think showing up with some gifts for my kids was going to smooth everything over.”
“Okay! I was in an accident a few years ago. Since that time I’ve been having a reoccurring dream about a woman that looked exactly like you. I told my brother about her and he hired an investigation service to try to see if the woman existed. They found you and I immediately recognized you as the woman in my dreams. EJ there’s no secret that I fell in love with you during the short time that we were together. I wasn’t lying to you when I told you that night that I was in love with you. You believe that right?”
EJ searched his eyes, there was no doubt in her mind that Armani was genuinely in love with her. “Yes… I believe that.”
Armani sighed deeply. “What you don’t know is that I fell in love with you in my dreams years before I met you. It’s crazy but I was in love with you before I even knew you existed. I have no idea how it is possible, but it’s the truth.”
“So you had me followed?” EJ asked confused.
“Yes, I had to. I couldn’t just come up to you and announce that I was in love with you and that I wanted to marry you. Hell, you could have already been married as far as I knew. I just had the investigators follow you so that I could find a way to meet you. I swear, that’s the honest truth.”
“You want to marry me?” EJ asked stunned.
“Yes, and if that was a proposal then my answer is hell yes!” Armani breathed as he swept the beautiful EJ up into his arms and leaned in for a kiss.
EJ eyes leaked with tears as she realized that for all practical purposes Santa had just proposed to her. “Sorry Santa, but I’m an old fashioned girl. If you really want to marry me you have to ask me. After all, you are the man in this relationship.”
A sexy grin slid quickly across Armani’s face as the handsome young prince got his answer. Gathering her in his arms quickly, he smothered her mouth with his and gave her a five alarm whorehouse in blaze kiss.
Quickly pulling off his Santa hat and wig Armani tossed them to the side and dropped to his knees before EJ. His eyes never once left her as he pulled a blood red, velvet ring box from the jacket pocket of his Santa suit. EJ’s right hand flew to her mouth as Armani opened the ring box and produced a flawless, twenty karat, emerald cut diamond engagement ring.
“Escape Jones, will do me the honor of being my wife and one day my queen?” Armani proposed as he took her left hand in his and waited for her answer.
“Oh my God!” EJ murmured as she stared at the handsome prince and then the ring and then back at the prince again. “Is that real?”
Armani chuckled. “Yes! Yes! It is very real and so is my proposal. Marry me Escape Jones and be my wife and my queen.”
“Yes! Yes! Yes!” I will marry you! Yes!” EJ screamed in glee.
The girls heard the commotion and ran to see what the excitement was all about. Nothing on the planet could had prepared them for what they were about to see. The skeptic Parisa recognized him first.
“Daddy! Paris it’s Daddy! Santa Claus is Daddy!” She screamed as she raced over to Armani.
Paris was on her heels screaming, “Daddy is that you! Parisa it is Daddy! I told you Daddy would come this year. I told you!”
Armani did not hesitate snatching the girls up in his arms and loving them as if they were his own flesh and blood. The girls hugged and kissed him and cried tears of joy as EJ and Prissy sobbed like newborns that had just been slapped on their ass. The whole lot of them, including Prince Armani, were a sobbing mess. Hell Austin and the elves had to choke back a few tears.
When they finally settled down a little, Armani made his big announcement. “Guess what girls?”
“What? What? What?” They chimed in unison as they waited with bated breath.
“Mommy and Daddy are going to have a big fairytale wedding and we are all going to live in a giant castle!”
“A castle just like Princess Jasmine or Princess Tiana live in?” Parisa asked confused.
“Yes, But much, much bigger.” Armani responded.
“OMG Paris! We are going to be princesses!” Parisa squealed.
“Are we going to be princesses Daddy?” Paris asked excited.
“You most certainly are.” Armani chuckled as he kissed his girls. “You will be Princess Paris and you will be Princess Parisa. The girls gushed before smothering Armani with about a hundred kisses each.
EJ looked at Prissy. “He has a castle?”
“You’re the one that spent the night with him. You should know! You tell me!” Prissy teased.
“Shhh! Before my daughters hear you! FYI, that was on his yacht! I’ve never been to his home!” She playfully shoved her.
“Whatever! I told you to Google him like I did, but you were too busy goggling him. And FYI, yes he has a big old castle. Tell me something, could he be compensating for other shortcomings?” Prissy continued to tease her.
EJ eyed her handsome fiancé. “Not by a long shot…That ain’t the only thing he has that’s big!” She snickered beneath her breath, although Prissy heard her.
“TMI, TMI!” Prissy responded as she pretended to cover her ears. “Happy for you, but TMI!”
EJ grabbed her, and hugged her tight before kissing her cheek. “Thank you Prissy! You’re the best friend and sister in the entire world. Thank you for everything and thank you for bringing Armani back to me.”
Prissy held her close. “It was nothing Your High Ass… I mean Your Highness!” Prissy teased.
“Kiss my High Ass! Don’t even start calling me that bullshit!” EJ giggled as she gave her best friend in the world a big bear hug.
They watched in amazement as the girls recapped the past events of the last few years of their life. They were happier than they’d ever been and EJ knew she had only one person to thank for this miracle, God!
Chapter 30 Armani & EJ
Armani was determined to be married and move his family into the castle with him immediately. He couldn’t fathom spending another night without EJ’s legs wrapped around his body. Still, he refused to disrespect his daughters by sleeping with their unmarried mother with them in the house. Actually, it really was a moot point since the girls were convinced that Armani was their dad, still Armani was not comfortable with it.
Escape to Paris With Love Page 15
