Craving Temptation (12 page)

Amina finally made her way to her father's office. For two days straight she'd hidden out at Troy's home, pondering her next move. And despite his best efforts Troy had been unable to help her with the decisions she needed to make. Amina had kept him at arm's length knowing that it would not have served either of them well had she not been able to resolve her problems by her lonesome.

That first day had been the hardest as she'd assessed the pros and cons of their situation. The second day had been easier as she'd paused, thinking she might second-guess her decisions. When she hadn't, knowing wholeheartedly that she was doing the right thing, she'd put on her favorite Anne Klein suit and headed to campaign headquarters. As she walked into her father's office, her convictions firm, Amina knew nothing and no one was going to change her mind about what she wanted.

“Amina!”

She moved to her father's side and kissed his cheek. “Good morning, Father.”

“Where have you been? I have been worried about you.”

“I needed time to think. I've been staying with a friend. I apologize for not letting you know where I was.”

Nasser nodded. “I understand that there was a situation between you and your brother?”

“Basil attacked me and if he were not my brother I would be pressing charges against him.”

Nasser tensed his jaw tight as he clenched his back teeth together.

Amina continued. “But he is my brother and because the negative publicity would not serve your campaign well I can't do that to you.”

Nasser took a deep breath. “I don't know the details of what happened, Amina, but I don't think it was Basil's intent to do you harm.”

“Father, you don't know Basil and you don't know half the things he's done. Basil will hurt anyone who is in his way. If you hope to win this election and have a successful term as mayor, I would strongly advise you to distance yourself as far from Basil as you can.”

Nasser came to his feet, moving around his desk to stand in front of her. “Basil is my son, Amina.”

“And I am your daughter. As well as your campaign manager. And as a licensed attorney and officer of the court I would not steer you wrong.”

“Daughter, I wish you had a better understanding of how things should be with family; between a father and his children, men and women. Your mother did not serve you well to turn you away from Islam. I forgive your behavior, Amina, because I know you have not been taught better.”

Amina shook her head. Her tone was terse. “This is not about my mother or how I was raised. There is nothing my mother could have done differently or that the Nation of Islam can do now to change any of that. This is all about Basil, his illegal activities and his destructive behavior. It has nothing to do with your religion or my beliefs. You don't know half of what you son has been up to and you need to.”

Nasser moved back to his leather chair and sat down. “I don't want to discuss this further, Amina. I expect your obedience. I will deal with your brother and his behavior. Now we have work to do,” he said. He looked back down to the papers on his desk and Amina knew she had been dismissed.

She stood quietly for a few minutes, then rounded the desk to her father's side. There were tears in her eyes as she leaned to kiss his cheek, wrapping her arms around his neck. She allowed her lips to linger against his skin as she wished a quick prayer skyward. As she stood straight she met his gaze and smiled, a sweet bend to her lips. She loved her father with everything in her. In that moment she knew that he would never know how much.

“I'm sorry, Father,” she said. “I can't continue on as your campaign manager. I wish you much success and pray that Basil will be able to serve you well. But I'm handing in my resignation.”

Nasser stared at her for a brief moment, then nodded. “That is probably for the best, Daughter. This will allow you more time to focus on your commitment to Kareem; to prepare yourself to be a good wife and mother.”

Amina shook her head. “No, sir. Kareem is not the man I want to spend the rest of my life with. He's self-centered, egotistical, and a coward. He will never have my heart. I know that I would never be safe with Kareem and I don't trust that he would protect me if the need arose. I refuse to marry him.”

“That is totally unacceptable!” Nasser exclaimed. His eyes were wide and his nostrils flared in anger.

“I'm sorry that upsets you, Father, but I want better for myself. I would hope that you would want better for me as well.”

“How can you think that I do not have your best interests at heart, Amina?”

Amina's tears finally rained down her cheeks. “If you want what's best for me, then accept that Kareem is not it. Support my decision.”

It was on the tip of her tongue to tell her father about her relationship with Troy but as he stood staring at her, Amina knew that her father would never be accepting of her choices. She felt a sliver of her heart crack in two. She took a deep breath and held it.

“We can discuss this further at home,” Nasser said, his tone dismissive.

“I won't be coming home,” Amina said, blowing warm air past her lips. “I leave for Atlanta tonight and I'll be gone for the weekend. If you want to talk more on Monday I would love to meet with you but I won't be moving back into your home when I return.”

Nasser shook his head. “You disappoint me, Amina.”

She forced another smile to her face. “I'm sorry you feel that way, Father,” she said. As she moved out the door, she tossed him one last look. “I'm disappointed in you, too.”

 

 

Rasheeda had never flown in an airplane before. The flight from Memphis to Atlanta was one new experience after another. For most of the one-and-a-half-hour flight she felt like a deer caught in the headlights. If it were not for Amina in the first-class seat beside her she imagined she'd have been completely lost.

Amina seemed to read her mind as she smiled in her sister's direction. The woman's excitement was infectious and Rasheeda smiled with her, feeling slightly vulnerable without her veil.

“Mother is going to be so surprised,” Amina chimed. “I can't wait to see her face. I can't wait for her to see you,” she said as she pressed a hand to her sister's cheek.

“It's been so long,” Rasheeda gushed. “Do you think she'll like me?”

Amina laughed. “Mother loves you. And yes, I think she's going to
like
everything about you.”

“I'm really happy that you asked me to be your maid of honor, Amina.”

“I'm really happy that you agreed to come and stand up with me.”

“I like Troy. I think he's perfect for you. And I wouldn't miss your wedding for anything in the world.”

Amina grinned. “Troy is perfect!”

She paused for a brief moment, excited by the prospect of becoming Troy's wife. Saying yes to Troy had been the easiest decision she had to make. And although she had hoped to be of help to her father in his campaign she knew she had to step aside. She knew that eliminating that conflict of interest was necessary for her and Troy to move forward.

And they were moving forward. Troy had one last political commitment that afternoon before he and his family would be on their own plane to Atlanta. A quick phone call to her mother had gotten the wheels rolling, a wedding ceremony planned for the following day. They'd only have a day and a half to honeymoon before they would have to fly home and have Troy back on the campaign trail Monday morning.

Amina had done much soul-searching to get to this point. She had never been foolhardy, rushing into anything without some serious thought first. When Troy had first asked her to marry him, she hadn't wanted to give it any consideration. It was too soon. There were too many challenges. It couldn't possibly work. Questions and doubts had been like fodder, the wealth of it fueling every fear she ever had. But with all her reservations and concerns what kept leaping to the forefront of her mind was how much she loved Troy.

She loved him with every ounce of breath in her. She loved him more than she had ever thought possible. Loving Troy had made her final decision easy. And loving Troy would have taken her down the aisle days earlier if such a thing had been possible.

Despite the rush of it, Amina had only one regret. Not having her father or even her brother to share in her joy broke her heart. Her sister didn't miss the look of sadness that crossed her face.

“Father will come around,” Rasheeda said softly as she pressed a warm palm against the back of Amina's hand. “It will be hard in the beginning but he does love us.”

Amina nodded. She really hoped that was true.

 

 

Laughter could be heard outside the front door. The crowd inside was consumed with laughter when Troy and his family found their way to the home of Rebecca Brewer. The wealth of it was contagious as Harper broke out into giggles and Troy and Quentin both found themselves smiling.

When Amina swung the door open, her own excitement spilled out the entrance as she threw herself into Troy's arms, kissing him eagerly.

“Hi!” she finally exclaimed as she looked from Quentin to Harper and back to Troy.

Greetings rang in perfect sync as they traded hugs and kisses. From somewhere in the back of the ranch-style house, Amina's mother called out to her, using her family nickname.

“Mimi! Let that young man come up for air so we can meet him, please!”

Troy laughed. “Mimi?”

“Only my mother calls me that. If you call me Mimi, I will hurt you!” she said as she laughed with him. She took his hand and pulled him inside, gesturing for her new family to follow.

Amina led them down the hall into the open family space. The laughter subsided abruptly as everyone turned to stare. Troy suddenly felt shy with all eyes on him. He tossed Quentin and Harper a dazed look and Harper giggled warmly.

“Hello!” Troy chimed, his hand waving slightly.

Amina's mother jumped from her seat and rushed to his side. Standing on tiptoe she wrapped her arms around his torso and hugged him warmly. Pulling back, her hands gripping his shoulders, she studied him intently. Troy's eyes widened, words stuck somewhere deep in his throat.

“You are as handsome as my girls said you were!” Rebecca exclaimed.

Troy blushed profusely. “Thank you!”

Amina shook her head. “Troy Elliott, this is my mother, Rebecca Brewer. Mom, this is Troy. And this is his brother, Quentin, and Quentin's wife, Harper.”

“Welcome to my home!” she said. “I'm so excited to have you all here. Come sit! Make yourselves comfortable!”

As the family pointed them to empty seats, Amina continued the introductions. “These are my uncles, Manuel Brewer and Nico Brewer and my aunt, Rochelle Hines. The three gossips in the corner there with Rasheeda are my cousins Alisa, Alaina, and Abigail. And somewhere in the other room watching the game are more cousins; David, Prentiss, Alonzo, and Brighton.”

“And Mamie!” Uncle Nico added. “My wife loves a good ball game.”

The young woman named Abigail called out loudly, “Please, please, please tell me that you two have more brothers. At least one. Please!”

The women all laughed.

“Sorry,” Troy said. “It's just us two.”

“Damn!” Alisa exclaimed as she snapped her fingers.

“And you're really happily married?” Abigail asked, her gaze falling on Quentin as she licked her lips.

Harper laughed as she eased her arm through her husband's. “He's very happily married!” she said. “And take your eyes off my man!”

The room burst out laughing again.

Amina shook her head. “Please excuse my cousins. They're all desperate!”

“I would not define us as desperate, thank you very much!” Alaina said.

“We're desperate,” Abigail interjected.

“Speak for yourself,” Alisa chimed.

“We're all so excited to meet you and your family, Troy. Every time my Mimi says your name her eyes light up. I have never seen her so happy.”

Troy smiled. “I feel the same way. Your daughter has made me the happiest man in the world.”

Quentin nodded. “Would anyone mind if I made myself happy watching that game in there?”

“Really, Quentin?” Harper chimed.

Quentin leaned to kiss her lips. “Really!”

Rebecca gestured him on. “Just make yourself at home. If you want to watch the game, baby, you go watch the game,” she said.

An elderly woman poked her head into the room and looked around. “I heard voices,” she said as her gaze rested on Troy.

“Oh, Grandmother!” Amina exclaimed. “I forgot you were in the kitchen.

“Me and Bettina was finishing up the fried chicken,” the matriarch said as she moved into the room, coming to stand in front of Troy. She eyed him intently. “So, dis be him?”

Amina nodded. “Yes, ma'am. Troy, this is my grandmother, Ann Brewer. Grandmother, this is my fiancé, Troy Elliott.”

Troy rose from his seat, leaning to wrap the older woman in a warm hug. “It's very nice to meet you, Mrs. Brewer.”

She patted him warmly against the back as she hugged him in return. “Everyone calls me Grandmother.” She leaned back to stare up at him. “Ain't you just the prettiest thing! Amina, he is just the prettiest thing!”

The room laughed again. The banter continued from room to room as the two families all got to know one another. The mood was easy and comfortable and the Elliott family was made to feel completely at home. After an hour or so Amina's uncles came to their feet and gestured for Troy to follow.

“Let's give the women some space,” Uncle Nico said. “Give us men some time to get to know each other better,” he said.

Troy tossed Amina a wink of his eye and leaned to plant a light kiss against her lips. She smiled brightly as he disappeared with her uncles through the sliding glass doors to the backyard. When all the men were out of earshot, the women converged. Talking over each other they tossed questions at Amina faster than she could answer them. Both Rasheeda and Harper sat back like two flies on the wall, Harper amused and Rasheeda completely overwhelmed.