Adored in Oman (Book 2 in Teach Me, Love Me Series): Interracial Romance (18 page)

Abdulla very much liked the black eyed peas. He was surprised when he realized the peas sat atop rice. He made a mental note to ask Shan to make a to go container for his mother. Between the two of them, Abdulla sometimes felt like a restaurant delivery man. They were always sending a dish for the other to taste. One weekend Shan had spent Friday in the kitchen with his mother making traditional Omani dishes. He had been waved away from the kitchen, but had heard them laughing and chatting a mile a minute.

“I have a plastic tub in the fridge for you to take to your mom,” she said as she was washing the dishes.

“I also have one for you, because last time I sent a dish you ate half of it before taking it to your mom,” Shan said, with narrowed eyes.

“Hey, I was starving and I said I wouldn’t do it again,” he laughed. His eyes were bright with mischief that suggested he absolutely would do it again.

“You want to watch a movie? I can fire up the Netflix because you must be tired of getting beaten in dominoes,” Shan offered.

“Yes, let’s do. Are you going to continue my education in black film?” Abdulla asked.

“Only if you agree to continue my education in Bollywood,” Shan said.

Abdulla was a big fan of Shah Rukh Khan and watched lots of Bollywood action films. The rest of the evening decided, Shan made tea for Abdulla and poured herself a glass of wine before settling down for the movie. They started with “Yes Boss” a 1997 film starring Shah Rukh Khan. Everyone likes a romantic comedy and this oldie but goodie proved to have stood the test of time.

They took a break before starting the second movie so Shan could make her special popcorn with cumin and parmesan cheese. Abdulla liked his sprinkled with zatar as well, so he always had his own bowl. Shan felt zatar belonged on bread, not popcorn.

For movie two, she showed Abdulla “Cooley High.” When the movie characters Stone, Robert and Damon attack Cochise, Shan gets up to leave the room.

Abdulla followed her and asked, “Why did you leave?”

Smiling at him, “I don’t like this part, so I always leave and come back in five minutes,” she said.

Sitting on the bed next to her, “If you don’t like it, I won’t either,” he said.

She thought that was a sweet gesture and rewarded him with a kiss. Abdulla returned the kiss, with interest and rolled her to her back.

“Do you like this part?” he asked, lips hovering above her.

“Yes, this is my favorite part,” she said.

The kiss resumed. Clothes were discarded and the movie forgotten. Shan ran her hands across Abdulla’s shoulders, her nails making little indentations when she squeezed. He was kissing her neck and licking her nipples, causing her breath to catch in her throat. He took one in his mouth and rolled the other between his fingers. He knew how excited this got her and when his nimble fingers slid down her body, her garden was dewy.

It had been over a week since they had been together, due to him having to travel, so they were both in a bit of a hurry. Shan pushed him to his back and said, “I have missed you,” as she mounted him and started rocking back and forth.

Abdulla dug his heels into the bed and lifted his hips. With his hands around her waist, he sped up the pace. The sounds of his grunts and her moans were abundant. The tight grip of Shan’s inner muscles had Abdulla’s skin covered in goose bumps and his stomach muscles quivering. Hoping to hold on a bit longer, he moved her to hands and knees. The force of his entry from this position made Shan cry out, “Abood! Oh!”

Holding her shoulder with one foot on the bed, he deep stroked Shan to a yelling, quivering, arms stretched out, and face down completion. When he saw her back flatten and heard her yelling into the bed cover, he joined her. Collapsing on the bed next to her, breathing like a marathon runner, Abdulla reached out and smacked her bottom firmly.

“Now that’s how you show me you missed me, woman!” he said.

All Shan could do was hum her agreement. In the post-coital silence, a distinctive beep-beep-beep interrupted their haze of satisfaction.

Shan looked at him and said, “That’s your work email, better check it.”

Grumbling, Abdulla said, “You’re right,” and hauled himself up so he could dig through his pants pocket for the offending phone.

He tapped the screen a couple of times and then with a grin as big as Texas he said, “My visa has been granted. I’m buying my ticket, today.”

With a happy yelp, Shan bounded off the bed and jumped in his arms and wrapped her legs around his hips.

In celebration they squeezed each other followed by a bone melting, libido raising kiss.

The next day, Shan’s hair was freshly washed and Abdulla was massaging her scalp before applying the Knotty Boy peppermint cooling spray. She would tighten it herself with the tropical tightening gel.

The flight to DFW had been booked the previous night. They were Skyping with Katy and making plans.

“I still can’t believe she lets you touch her hair, Abdulla,” Katy said. “I guess I better take you seriously!”

Laughing, Abdulla said, “Miss Katy, she knows I love her hair and I am very happy I get to help sometimes.”

“Yes, only sometimes, Mama,” Shan chimed in before getting back on topic.

“Now, Mama, I’m going to bring some stuff from here because I want Abood to be able to have his preferred tea while visiting,” she said.

“Have you invited everyone to the fish fry the first weekend we get back?” Shan asked.

“Of course, I have and you know your family so it’s going to be a fish fry and barbeque. The weather has been good, so your uncle insists on a barbeque. He said Abdulla can’t come to Texas and go home without having tried brisket,” Katy told her.

“Ooo, Uncle is making brisket? I can’t wait!” Shan said.

“What is brisket?” asked Abdulla.

“It is a huge hunk of meat that is slow cooked and will make your tongue and tummy very happy; it can’t be explained, it has to be tried,” Shan said.

“I haven’t been disappointed by anything you have fed me yet,” he said.

“Um, what about grits?” she teased.

“I didn’t say they were bad, I just didn’t care for the texture,” he rebutted.

“On another note, Jack’s parents would like to stop by briefly to say hello, but will understand if you think it is too awkward,” Katy said.

“In light of your recent communication with Jack and his wife, the felt like this would be a good time to see you,” Katy continued into the silence.

“What do you think Abdulla? Will it be awkward for you to meet my former in-laws?” Shan asked.

“I don’t think it is about me,” Abdulla said. “Do you want to see them?”

“Actually, it would be nice. We had a good relationship and they were devastated when Jack and I broke up. I just didn’t have anything left over at the time to manage their heartache with my own,” she said.

Then, to her mother, “Sure, tell them to come on by and have a plate. I haven’t seen them in a month of Sundays. I would be happy for them to meet Abdulla,” Shan agreed.

“Wonders never cease,” Katy said. “Shan, go get your phone and resend the itinerary, when I try to open the one you sent it refuses to open the attachment. I have no idea why not.”

With a cheerful, “No problem,” Shan hopped up and went to get her phone off the charger in her room.

Quickly, Abdulla said, “Have you made the arrangements we talked about?”

“Yes,” Katy said, “everyone will be there and the assistant manager from Tiffany’s called. They are sending two members from their marketing team and security. Shan is going to be surprised.”

As Shan reentered the room, Abdulla said, “Did you resend?”

“Yes, I just clicked send,” she answered. “Mama you can check your email anytime and it should be there.”

“I can’t believe you are coming home for Christmas with a beau, Shan. I am so happy and can’t wait to meet Abdulla in person. You kids have a happy afternoon, I am way past bedtime,” Katy said and with love and virtual hugs they ended the Skype call.

Longview, Texas

Carmen had resumed her work duties only a few weeks before. She had been very productive with her time off. She had discovered Shan was coming home for Christmas, quite by accident.

              Carmen had run into her former colleague who had taken great delight in telling her Shan would be home soon and they were going to lunch. She had even asked if Carmen wanted to meet up. Carmen declined, but did get some news. Apparently, Shan had a new man. While Carmen found that interesting, she didn’t have any plans to attempt a seduction. What she was going to do was embarrass Shan.

She had recommended a restaurant for them but the colleague had told her they were going to Dudley’s Cajun Café. Now Carmen knew where they were going to be, but not when. No problem, she doubted it would be hard to find out, not with the way people put everything on social media these days. Christmas was only two weeks away; very soon she would have what she wanted all along. She would be acknowledged. She would not be dismissed!

Jack was making progress. The pain was still off the charts, but he was learning to manage it mentally. He was learning to keep his mind healthy and not be consumed with anger. The pain killers were a Godsend, as was his wife. All Jack could be was grateful for her steadfastness. His parents had been blindsided by the news Carmen was behind this and through his father’s contacts discovered she had made a habit of breaking up marriages. His and Shan’s was the first, but not the last. There were still active restraining orders against her and she had been twice attacked by enraged wives. He wondered if she knew some of those marriages had reconciled over time.

Arson had continued to plague Longview, it was like the burning of he and Alera’s home had been the beginning of some sort of spree. Jack wasn’t fooled; whoever helped Carmen was still helping her, trying to deflect suspicion. It was stupid because there were now four open arson cases being investigated by the fire and police departments. When whomever it was got caught, they were going to be facing some serious time.

Jack also knew his parents were going to see Shan when she came home this Christmas. He was glad enough time had passed that she allowed it. His parents had been so disappointed when they divorced. He also heard she was bringing a man with her. Jack was glad she was dating and hoped she was happy.

Alera was exhausted. Living with in-laws, even the wonderful ones like hers, can be stressful. She had a husband in the hospital, children, a job and a house with repairs to oversee. Thankfully, there were people through their church she could hire and the work was coming along without incident. Still, it was a lot to manage. Her mother in law kept telling her to slow down and rest, but she just couldn’t figure out how.

Alera’s daily prayer was, “Lord see us through the next six months.” By then, Jack would be out of the hospital and seeing a rehabilitation specialist. Their living room would be fully repaired, painted and furnished. She would be back at home with her girls and hopefully, be able to rest.

For now, the routine was leave early to stop by the hospital on the way to work, work all day, head to her in-laws to feed the girls and get them ready for bed, back to the hospital to check on Jack and then finally to her bed. It was grueling and twice a week, her in-laws put their foot down and told her not to go to the hospital in the evening. One of them would go visit and she would Skype with Jack.

Katy and her extended family members were thrilled to be hosting Abdulla on his first visit to Texas. He had been to America before, while in University he had visited New York, D.C. and much of the Eastern seaboard one summer. However, he was visiting as Shan’s beau and all were excited to host.

Katy redecorated the guest bedroom, it had needed an update. The walls had been painted tan and the accent wall was sponged with bronze, gold and dark brown. The bed was covered in a heavy bronze and brown comforter with elegant brushed bronze lamps on either side. The wood floor had tan throw rugs on each side of the bed. There was a radio, but no television. Guest rooms are for sleeping and changing, not hiding away from the host family.

It was warm and cozy and Abdulla would be very comfortable. Every toiletry known to man was in the guest bathroom, so he would surely not need a thing if he discovered he had forgotten something. The red carpet of hospitality was ready to be rolled out for Abdulla.

DFW International Airport

              Shan and Abdulla had slept through half of the long flight. They had flown from Oman to Dubai and there connected with Emirates Airlines for the direct flight into DFW flight. Shan hated layovers and avoided them as often as possible. They were presently pulling their luggage and keeping an eye out for Katy, Shan’s mother.

Shan spotted her first, “Oh, my goodness,” she said.

“What?” Abdulla asked.

“Prepare yourself, she brought half the family,” she murmured.

Straight ahead with a twelve foot banner that read, “Welcome to Texas Abdulla!” Shan’s family was waving and smiling. The exclamation point on the sign was a cowboy boot with a hat underneath it. Shan’s mother didn’t even pretend to be ashamed for hauling half the family to the airport and creating quite the spectacle.

Shan only had time to introduce Abdulla to her mother. Katy was still hugging him when Shan said, “Everybody, this is Abdulla. Please make him feel at home.”

She was intending on then introducing Abdulla by name to everyone, but instead he was surrounded by a crowd of folks who were hand shaking, back patting, and hugging him. Choruses of, “I’m Uncle Lee, I’m Aunt Helouise, I’m Cousin Frank,” rained down all around him.

Shan let them have their moment and was standing there smiling when Abdulla met her eyes. Mouthing the words, “I told you they would love me,” he winked and she laughed out loud.

“Okay family, give him a moment. Let him breathe and let’s get this party on the road to Longview,” she said with a voice raised to be heard above the din.

“Not so fast, Shan,” her mother said. “We have reservations at Trulucks.”

Sighing, Shan resolved herself to a boisterous lunch and a much later arrival time home than she had planned. “Thank you mother, I am sure Abdulla will enjoy the food.”

The group headed out to eat and Abdulla and Shan were swept away with the happy crowd.

Hours later, full of good food and satisfied after an uneventful ride, Abdulla had his feet up on the bed he would be sleeping in for the next two weeks.

He enjoyed meeting Shan’s family. It surprised him how large a group it had been. She only talked to her mother regularly and had not mentioned all the people he met today. He found that funny because she was always telling him how big Omani families were.

A soft knock at the door sounded and Shan opened the door.

“I see you are worn out from the trip and lunch today. Is there anything I can get you? I think I am going to take a nap,” she mentioned.

“I am very comfortable and don’t really have any needs,” Abdulla told her. “I am surprised at the size of your family.”

“I know. I would have prepared you if I had known Mama was going to invite so many people,” she said.

“It was amazing. I felt famous to be welcomed by so many and with such enthusiasm,” Abdulla said.

“You sure you don’t want to take your nap in here with me?” he asked with a grin.

“Do you want my mama to come in here with a broom and start waving it around?” Shan asked, with a raised eyebrow.

“No, I do not,” Abdulla said.

“I will see you after our
separate
naps,” she told him as she backed out of the doorway and closed his door.

A few short minutes later, Abdulla heard Miss Katy shouting down the hallway, “Shan, are you in your own room?”

Abdulla found himself suppressing a laugh at Shan’s response, “
YES,
Mama!”

Unsurprisingly after the long flight, lunch in Dallas and drive to Longview, Shan and Abdulla didn’t wake until very early the next morning. They met in the kitchen, bathed and dressed, though it was only five in the morning. Speaking in hushed tone, Shan prepared tea for them both and reheated their leftovers. After a quick meal, she invited him outside to sit on the porch and watch the sunrise.

“So, how was your first night in Texas?” she asked.

“I wish I could remember it,” he said. “All I know is I went to lay down for a nap and then didn’t move for nine hours.”

“Same here; that always happens when I come home. I crash pretty hard when I finally get in the bed,” Shan said.

“I can say the bed sleeps like a dream and the room smells like apples and cinnamon. The candles your mother lit are wonderful. At some point, she brought a bottle of water in for my bedside table. She is a great hostess,” Abdulla said.

“She sure is,” Shan agreed. “We will be eating again in a few hours when she wakes. I am sure she has a nice breakfast planned. Do you feel up to a walk? We can welcome the day and stretch our legs a bit.”

Abdulla agreed and they headed off down the street. Shan pointed out where friends of hers grew up, walked him to the neighborhood park and took him by her elementary and junior high schools.

They sat on the swings behind the elementary and she took him down to the creek bed that ran between the two schools. It was called Kissing Creek when she was a kid and as the sun stole its way into the sky, their lips touched causing something warm and wonderful to spread throughout both their hearts.

It was a gentle walk and they talked of many things. Abdulla marveled at the way Shan was here, as if she had really come home. He knew it had to do with the people who loved her, the familiarity of oft traveled places and comfort of memories.

They already had a lunch with a former colleague of hers planned for the next day and the family barbeque that evening.

He couldn’t wait to execute his surprise.