Sadness took shape along with the wonder in her exquisite eyes. “I had to, Roman.”
He tensed and then reached up to pull her arms down from around his neck. “How long ‘til the big moment?” He asked, grimacing when she frowned her confusion.
“The wedding.”
Imani beamed then. “Two days.”
Roman rolled his eyes and mouthed a curse. He looked past her shoulder. “This dancing is part of the bachelorette party?” He asked.
Imani looked back, smiled. “You could say it is one of the celebration rituals.”
Silence wedged in between them, among the wind, wildlife and music. Curiosity blazed in Imani’s eyes again when she looked to Roman. “Why are you here?”
“Don’t marry him, Imani.”
She stood back. “What? Who-”
“Any one of the hundred other guys who must be in line after Nassor. I bet the list is as long as my arm and even more distinguished,” he added the last like a curse.
An awareness took shape on Imani’s face. “Roman-”
“I came here to ask you to marry me.”
She froze. Nothing moved, except the radiant fabric billowing against the wind like some exotic mirage and her thick unbraided hair flying from the teal scarf she wore. Her mouth was a circle from which no sound emerged.
Roman stood back then as well. “I see I’m too late.”
“No, you-”
“Don’t worry. I won’t cause a scene.”
“Roman-”
“If I’d known about all this, I wouldn’t have come.”
“It’s not-”
“I’m gonna head up to the house and say hey to your dad and then-”
She kissed him- a long, sweet kiss that pushed his head back a fraction against the pressure. Roman was too stunned to respond at first. That changed in an instant and then he was taking undeniable control. When they finally surfaced for air, he had Imani off her feet.
“It’s not my wedding,” she said into his cheek. “Papa gave his blessing to my brother Faraji. He is to marry Meena. They’ve always been in love.”
Roman set Imani down, but didn’t release her. “What are you saying?” He gave her a faint shake as if to encourage her clarity.
“I’m saying, Roman Tesano, if you have something to ask me, you should.”
“Marry me,” he blurted a millisecond later and followed it with a murderous frown as he averted his face. “Idiot! Not that way,” he said to himself and then took a knee in front of her.
“Will you marry me Imani? I love you.”
Tears leaked from her eyes. They’d been pooled there since he had blurted the words moments earlier. “Yes,” the response was a laughing whisper as she went to her knees as well. “Yes, Roman, I will. I love you too.”
They put their foreheads together and remained that way for a time.
“Roman? Are you sure?” Imani was first to bring words back into the moment. “We haven’t known each other very long-”
Roman was the one to interrupt with a kiss then. There was less sweetness and more hunger in the act. He took Imani’s mouth with long, seeking slides of his tongue. It scraped the roof of her mouth, the even ridge of her teeth and rotated leisurely until she moaned.
“I know that I love you,” he said after breaking the kiss, “That’s all I need to know. What about you?” Expectancy filtered his dark as night eyes.
Imani smiled. “I already said it. Yes.” She plied him with another kiss.
When the tender gesture ended, Roman rested his forehead to Imani’s shoulder. They remained that way until the low hanging sun disappeared.
~4~
Harlem, New York~
Giselle came out to join Gabriel on the stoop. Shoulder to shoulder they nudged each other back and forth until Gabriel dropped an arm across her shoulders. They laughed and tucked into each other, relishing the moment.
“My grandmother wants you to eat another plate.”
Gabriel responded with a happy groan. “I wish I could, but I don’t think that third helping’s gonna let me.”
Giselle fingered a wisp of silky blonde over her shoulder and sighed. “She thinks you’re too skinny.”
“I see,” Gabriel bowed his head and nodded. “Think I should talk to her?” He fixed Giselle with a crooked smile. “Let her know I’ll have no trouble keeping up my energy to perform my husbandly duties.”
