“But we should talk before we go through with it,” Giselle said.
Once more, Liam moved close to Giselle, his manner grim when she didn’t retreat. “What is it, love?”
Giselle looked to Gabriel who nodded. “My family will be here today- my mother and father.”
Liam smiled. “Well that’s won-”
“They’re black, Mr. Tesano.”
Liam was still smiling, though the curious furrow had returned to his brow. He slid a look toward Gabriel and then back to the lovely blonde at his side. “I...don’t...”
“My parents are black. I’m black. I don’t look it. My great great grandmother was white-I...have her looks. No one else knows except Rena and Aaron.”
Liam’s dark eyes flared. “My Aaron?”
Giselle nodded. “He promised to let us tell it in our own way.”
Liam chuffed out a laugh. “They don’t call him noble for nothing.”
Giselle trembled visibly. “Please forgive my deceit.”
“Shh...No love, there has been no deceit.” Liam drew Giselle in that time. There was no resistance.
“I should’ve told you.”
“Why do you say that?”
“I pretended to be what I’m not.”
“For your safety and to make a living, love,” he smoothed the back of his hand down her cheek. “Doing that hurt no one, but you. I want you to stop hurting yourself, understood?”
Giselle nodded rigorously. She couldn’t speak. A tear escaped the corner of her eye.
Liam brushed the moisture away with his thumb. “Shh...none of this, bellissima. It’s your wedding day.”
A watery laugh tumbled past her lips. Soon, they were all laughing softly.
“Dad.” Gabriel sounded choked on emotion as well. “Thank you,” he said.
Liam kissed his son’s cheek. “I suppose this is why I was told not to mention today’s event to your mother?” He mused. “You wanna thank me?” He asked when Giselle nodded. “Share Giselle’s beautiful secret with your mother, uh? She’s driving me insane with her theories on what part of Switzerland the poor girl’s from!”
Laughter followed the threesome as they linked arms and hurried off to meet the rest of the wedding party.
~~~
Gabriel’s and Giselle’s wedding was not the society event Athena had been envisioning since the couple’s announcement almost a month earlier. The bride and groom had decided on the exact opposite of a regal society event in fact.
Brogan Lucas had insisted on giving his daughter away but that was about as much tradition as the nuptials saw.
The betrothed exchanged their vows at City Hall. In addition to the bride’s parents and grandmother, her brother Bradley, sister Gwendolyn and Rena attended. Representing Gabriel’s family were Aaron and Pitch who both served as the best men.
Candace attended with her boyfriend, but was escorted by his father. Liam kept Candace close to his side while Pitch handled duties as co-best man for his brother.
Afterwards, the group headed to Harlem for a celebration dinner hosted by Giselle’s grandmother Audrey Lucas. The day was a magical one for the bride, groom and everyone in attendance.
~9~
The rigors of the long trip and subsequent travels to reach the Kamande village had taken a toll on Roman. He slept well past noon the day after his arrival. He missed breakfast and lunch the following day, but there were no worries. Imani soon arrived in his suite with a filling meal and sparkling smile.
“Jesus, Imani,” Roman muttered when she suddenly appeared in his bedroom pushing a cart before her. His pajamas were on a far away chair, so he did his best to tuck the covers in around his bare hips.
“I’m afraid you don’t have time for more sleeping,” she said. “It’s time for your tour.”
“I thought I had one last night?”
“This is a real tour,” Imani set the food cart near the room’s tall windows. “I want to show you the land, my village.”
“Were you born here?” Intrigue, not to mention starvation had him pushing up to sit.
“My family was living in South Africa when I was born. Papa had already made a name for himself.”
Roman nodded. “Same is true for my dad.” his mouth watered as he was momentarily distracted by the platter she brought to him. A plump ribeye claimed one side, two thick slices of buttered toast and eggs claimed the other.
“An African breakfast?” Roman queried with raised brows.
Imani perched on a far corner of the bed. “The cooks wanted you to feel at home. They’ll introduce you to our cuisine soon enough,” she said.
“Why’d you guys move?” Roman asked while dotting the steak with drops of bottled sauce.
