Rena smiled triumphantly. “I’ll take that as a yes.”
She kissed him again on the cheek that time. Quickly then, she scooted across the seat and left the car. She waited on the curb, leaving Aaron with no chance to linger, only to do as she’d begged. He checked the rear view mirror once he’d pulled out into traffic.
He considered going back to the diner and following her the rest of the way home, but knew he wouldn’t do that. Not only because he had promised. He wouldn’t follow, because of what he had seen in Rena’s eyes when she begged him to go. Desperation.
~50~
Imani’s stay in New York wasn’t only about visiting with her cousins and friends...and falling in love with Roman Tesano. She had finally stopped denying that was happening. She was definitely falling in love with him. Thankfully, she had other endeavors to keep her mind off how utterly impossible it would be for them to have any sort of future.
Her school interests had a heavy concentration in art history. She was fascinated, not only with the works themselves, but with the creators. The backgrounds of the gifted craftsmen had motivated the majority of her research efforts in school.
During her school time in London her family had allowed a prized mural to be loaned to a British museum. The piece dated back to the 16th century and was a draw not only because of the captivating artistry that had gone into the work, but also for the time in which it was created.
The work was as inspiring as the story of how such a possession could survive in one family amid the terrible upsets its home continent had suffered. Since debuting in Britain, the mural had graced the walls of museums in Paris, Canada, even China. The family had declined allowing the piece to visit American shores.
Regardless, Imani had begged her father to allow her to work in a New York museum during the summer visit with her cousins. The Chief, being the doting father that he was, did everything in his considerable power to make that happen.
~~~
“Ah! Here she is! The Fitzhughe Museum’s Lead Curator Aubrey Hamilton extended a hand toward Imani. “Miss Kamande is one of our newest tour guides,” he told the man next to him. “Don’t let her newness fool you, though,” Hamilton continued. “She already knows more about our collections than members of my staff who have been here for years. Imani, this is one of our newest patrons, Mr. Liam Tesano.”
Imani believed she did a good job of smothering her gasp before it took flight. Hamilton didn’t seem to notice anything out of the ordinary, but Liam Tesano observed her with quietly curious eyes.
“Imani, would you please show Mr. Tesano around to some of our newest exhibits?” Hamilton encouraged.
Imani nodded. “Yes, sir.”
“Are you alright?” Liam asked when Aubrey Hamilton left the gallery.
“I-” Imani could do little else but gaze up at the man in wonder. He was quite devastating to look at, an almost exact replica of the guy she was falling in love with.
“Let’s sit down.”
His suggestion drew Imani from her daze. “I’m sorry I-I’m fine, really I-thank you so much Mr. Tesano for your patronage of the museum.”
Smiling, Liam’s eyes lovingly traveled around the sunlit gallery. The high ceiling and skylight made the place seem ethereal. “It’s been a dream of mine for a long while to be more of a supporter, to be able to contribute more to a place I enjoy so much.”
“Did you grow up around museums?” Imani asked.
Liam grinned. “Far from it,” he continued to stare up and around the space. “Museums were far far away from where I grew up in...”
While Liam shared insights of his homeland, Imani found herself paying more attention to the man instead of his words. She and Roman had spoken often of their families during the past two weeks of her stay. Roman hadn’t mentioned her meeting his family though. The moment was quite surreal, so much that she was oblivious to the man asking her a question. Liam Tesano took her elbow, squeezed and Imani snapped to.
“I’m sorry-”
“No more apologies, okay? Let’s sit.”
“Mr. Tesano,” she spoke with a soft insistence that stopped his movements. “I really am alright. I-I know your son.”
Liam’s reaction was a half grimace. “I see,” he squeezed Imani’s elbow again and inclined his head to look at her more directly. “I have many sons, Miss Kamande. Could you tell me which one so I’ll know who to crush for upsetting you?”
Imani managed a short, genuinely amused laugh. “It’s nothing like that, I promise. I know your son Roman,” her expressive gaze wavered demurely.
“Ah,” Liam kept the response light. Inside, many things were falling into place. Smiling more easily then, he gave Imani’s arm a slight shake. “I’m sorry to tell you I don’t think my son’s a museum enthusiast.”
She blew out a laugh. “I don’t think so, either. We met in Chicago, actually. My family was visiting there.”
“I see,” Liam appreciated the additional chips falling into place. “My Roman is a good boy-one with very good taste.”
Imani could feel her cheeks burn over the subtle compliment. Instead of averting her eyes, she bowed her head for a slight nod.
“Shall we?” Liam offered an arm, smiling when Imani accepted and their tour began.
~~~
The exhibit tour soon took second place to conversation. Liam and Imani became fast friends and spoke on everything from the museum’s oldest pieces, to her home in Africa. Her lunch time approached, but the discussion was showing no signs of wrapping. The new friends were having their chat on a cushioned bench in front of a 10th century Egyptian sculpture that had been traveling the country for two years. Imani was sharing the story of her family’s traveling mural when she saw her lunch date arriving.
Liam turned, brows lifting when he saw his son. Roman stopped in his tracks, gasped and Liam nudged Imani’s shoulder. “I’m having the oddest effect on people today.” He offered a hand to Imani and helped her stand as Roman approached on slow steps.
“Pop,” was all Roman could manage when he reached them.
“My son the lunch date,” Liam grinned but gave no additional insights.
“Your father is one of our newest patrons,” Imani explained.
“Do you think your boss would mind us continuing our tour another day?” Liam asked.
“Oh, no Sir,” Imani quickly replied, smiled.
