,Genie brushed the tears away as she sighed for the umpteenth time. How easily things fell apart. She had just been thinking about how she would have no choice but to leave no matter the outcome, abd here she was, packing up. Leaving.
Her only regret was that she had to leave when she had fallen in love. It could have been sooner, a week or two or three after they arrived at Asmird. No, it had to be-wait, she shook her head. It was stupid to think about it, to think about love, to even think that she might have had a slim chance.
Malik was not hers. Hadn’t she figured that out already? Why was she still thinking about love and him and whatever they could have had?
He did not love her. Liked her, maybe , because she was likable. They had sex, yes, because she was a woman with a healthy sexual appetite. But, she had to get a grip on herself. He did not love her. He had dreams, goals, ambitions, a desire to be someplace else.
She would no
“You don’t get to demand a boy,” Moonbeam crossed her hands over her obvious bulge.“Your daughter is enough trouble. I need a boy to soothe her wild spirit,” Zayed protested.“She takes after you, don’t you see? So, it’s your headache to deal with. I’ve done my part,” Moonbeam retorted.“When he-“He? You don’t get to tell me what gender I’m pushing out of my stomach. Hmph!” Moonbeam stamped her foot on the ground.“Wait till you see how much havoc two children can wreck around the house,” Malik cut in.“A lot,” Genie added.They were all seated outside the house she and Zayed had gotten soon after they got married. Genie had given birth the day after the wedding to twins- a boy and a girl. Zayed joked that it should have been Moonbeam, since he was the twin not his brother.Star, on the other hand, had turned out to be a wild cat. Mischief gleamed
Months later…Zayed stood, waiting for her. How many nights had he unconsciously wished for today? How many days had he hoped that this fantasy would one day be his?Even as he knew that today belonged to him, he still could not believe his luck. Somehow, somewhere fate had smiled on him and deemed him worthy enough to share his life with the most amazing woman he had ever met.If wishes were horses…he was a lucky rider.He pinched himself again, to be sure that this wasn’t a reoccurring dream. Reality couldn’t be this beautiful, could it?He looked to the congregation; his mother- even though she could not recognize him, his father- he had somehow over the past months learnt to put his hurt behind him and reach for the things that were beautiful and fulfilling. She had been beside him all the way, showing him that he could trust in her, that she was here to stay with him.
The trio, Moonbeam watched, glared at him as if he had suddenly sprouted horns.“You re sorry?” Zayed was the first to respond, anger overshadowing the hurt in his voice.“The fuck you mean by you are sorry?” Malik followed, his fingers clenched.“Sorry?” Latifah’s voice was low but menacing.“I’m sorry,” he raised his feeble hands and dropped them. “I’m sorry I did all those bad things to you. I’m sorry I never loved you three in the way that you wanted me to.”Zayed wanted to jump to stand but Moonbeam held his hand tight, restraining him. She leaned her head on his shoulder, telling him that she was beside him- she was here.“Sorry that you did not treat us the way we wanted? How about the way a father is supposed to treat his children?!”“I t
“Hey, daddy,” Moonbeam kisses him on the lips when she walked into his office.“Hey, pretty,” he murmured against her lips, pulling her close.“You smell nice,” she told him, sniffing him and smiling in approval.“And you taste like chocolates,” Zayed said.“Guilty. I’ve been eating lots and lots of it. Suddenly developed this craving and I can’t stop it,” she said, taking the chair in front of his desk.“Well, you have enough sugar to keep you going. Adding chocolate increases your risk of diabetes,” Zayed told her.She raised an eyebrow and cocked her head.“Oh? Where is the sugar coming from?“Me,” he pointed at himself. “I’m enough sugar to give you the sugar high you need.”Moonbeam stood up and walked around to stand behind him. Bending, she wrapped her hands around his shoulder and slid them down his neck.“But I
Zayed held her hand as they walked into the house his brother and Genie had just entered. He had a million questions but right now, he was content. Her hand in his, a promise to give it one more shot made him happy.He had known that he wanted something more with her but he had no idea how happy it would make him. And this, this was more than he expected.He wanted to tell her how happy she made him feel, how she made the world feel alright but he knew that he had to take it slow. He could tell that she still held her fears in her other hand- her fingers lightly closed into a fist.So, if he had to take months, more to show her that he was serious about the way he felt for her, he would do it. Show her that she had someone who was willing to care for her, protect her.Zayed looked at her and she smiled at him. That single act alone made his heart skip and he, in that moment realized something. He was in love with
Moonbeam knew that something was up but she said nothing. It was so obvious that she decided not to comment on it. The impromptu trip, the insistent on taking her daughter along with them, leaving her along with Zayed for the duration of the two hour trip , it all spelt setup.But she wasn’t about to call it out.“So, any ideas on where we are headed?” She asked Zayed whose hands were on the steering.“Nope. I was roped into this just the same way you were,” Zayed said, eyes on the road.“And you did not ask? That’s very unusual for you, Zayed,” Moonbeam insisted.“I did but Genie would not tell me anything. And Malik says it’s best to trust her,” Zayed said a little curtly.“Fine,” Moonbeam said, leaning back. He did not want to talk and she wasn’t ready to get the words out of his mouth. Not when she knew exactly what was going on.But what she did not know was how he felt towards it.