Page 50 of Royal Pain
Her kiss is the promise, just as the car pulls to the curb. The driver gets out and gets her bags from the trunk. I see the British Airways representatives waiting to escort her. They stand a respectable distance from the car. But their demeanor is unmistakable.
“Before you get out I want to tell you something. Actually, I want to ask you something.” My voice cracks with emotion. What she does to me. I turn into my sixteen-year-old inexperienced self.
“What, love?”
“Do you think you could ever see yourself living anywhere other than New York?”
But before there’s time for an answer Chudda knocks on the glass and holds his cell up, motioning me to lower the glass.
“I’m sorry to disturb. They’ve just taken the king to the hospital. The ambulance left a few minutes ago.”
It hits me like an avalanche. I’m not sure which way is up or what to do. Belinda and I untangle from each other and sit up.
“Why didn’t they call me?”
“Your cell goes to message. Kwai said he couldn’t get ahold of you.”
Belinda squeezes my arm and the tears in her eyes say the rest.
“Go, honey. Call when you can. Doesn’t matter what time,” I say.
“Are you going to be okay? Do you want me to stay? I will.”
Sweet woman. I kiss her.
“No. Let’s stick with the plan. You go back, take care of whatever you have to do. Then, after the wedding, get your ass back. Don’t forget I love you.”
Arms wrap around my neck and she presses her lips to mine. It feels like a lifeline offered to a drowning man. Life hasn’t scared me in a very long time.
* * *
The private wing of Mozia Hospital wasn’t familiar to me at all, until this year. Now I could find my way through the maze of corridors blindfolded. That’s something I never wanted to be proficient at.
Outside my father’s suite stand two armed guards. As I approach, the door pushes open and Tarik and Kwai walk out.
“How’s Dad doing?” I say, meeting them halfway to the elevator. There’s no need for greetings or any semblance of normalcy. It’s impossible to miss Kwai’s nose is red. Shit.
“He’s not doing well. They’ve got him on morphine so he’s in and out of sleep,” Tarik says.
“He’s been in a lot of pain,” Kwai adds. “The doctor says death is imminent.”
Those words need a moment to absorb and settle in my mind. But it’s my heart that takes the hit.
“How about Mom?”
Tarik starts biting his bottom lip, as he’s done his entire life whenever he’s stressed.
“She’s been a rock through this, but she’s afraid. You see it all over her face.”
“This is unbelievable. I never thought something would happen to either one of them this young.”
“None of us did. But it’s coming. We’ll have to come to terms with our personal loss separate from our people’s loss. Now it’s going to be all our jobs, brothers, not just mine,” Tarik says, laying a hand on our shoulders.
Is this really happening? All of a sudden it’s here and this place is where it happens. The three of us look like boys to me. Afraid, out of their depth kids.
“Where were you two going?”
“That fucking heart monitor is driving me crazy. Beep beep beep. Slower every hour.” Kwai spits the words out. “It’s like a death knoll.”
