The Re-search

Chapter 10

Hasani was gawking at me. Eyes roaming my entire body when I emerged from the room after getting ready for breakfast.

"I'm ready to go." I smiled, excited to return to the beautiful restaurant with a breathtaking view of wildlife and a surreal waterfall, where we'd once had brunch.

He walked over and gave me a sweet kiss. "Okay. I'll let Tumi know."

Tumi was the man in charge of delegating security to the Blazers whenever something as big as yesterday's events took place. Typically, it was easy for them to go unnoticed by moving under the radar and making sure never to draw too much attention in public, but a win like last night's birthed a type of excitement in the fans that sometimes led to things getting physical.

It had been really hard to even drive out of the arena in central Musomi last night as fans of Hasani's gathered around my car to get him to sign autographs, take pictures, have a chat. Tumi had upped the security and tailed us back to the resort to ensure that nothing crazy would happen.

Hasani was all the rave in the news and online this morning, having made record breaking changes to Africa's basketball league as we knew it, and also surprisingly addressed the hate comments in one of the interviews he'd done after the games.

"I am enjoying my break." he'd started to say in answer to the stout lady's question. "It's been a great way to relax, spend some much needed time with my wife, and open my eyes to a few important things, like the value I bring to my team and the country as a whole with the skills I execute on the court. I think I've done a lot to garner respect, not only for me, but for my people as well. My personal life is not a movie anyone should be casually and carelessly commenting on, but I failed to communicate that, and it's led to a lot of online bullying and unsolicited commentary that will not be taken lightly in future. I've signed a new contract with the team's representatives that gives me full authority to take any perpetrators to court and I plan on making the utmost use of it. I need everyone to understand that no fan of mine can claim to love me if they hate the people I love. I've drawn my line and I dare you to cross it."

The revelation had left the interviewer sputtering in shock, and many Kitalo Blazers fans along with her. His true fans were going hard for him all over social media, shutting the naysayers up and making comments in support of Hasani's bold statement.

As for me, I was in complete disbelief (and seriously turned on, blame the hormones) as I watched the clip of him defending my honour so confidently. One thing I knew for sure is I'd lucked out in so many ways the day I finally gave Hasani a chance to enter my world.

Now, as we drove to the restaurant in a convoy of three jet-black SUVs, the two of us were like love-crazy teenagers in the backseat of our high-security ride, giggling and stealing kisses, holding hands, flirting heavily. I was so in love I was drunk on it, Hasani's presence increasing my endorphin levels.

"We meet again, my lady." Sani said when we were seated under the green canopy outside the baobab shaped restaurant, the place still as mystical as it had been years ago when the warm sun kissed Hasani's skin and exposed me to glimpses of all the things I'd grown to love about him.

"It's as beautiful as I remember it." I said wistfully, my eyes unable to look away from the powerfully flowing waterfall in the distance until a majestic herd of elephants caught my eye, the matriarch leading the way to a waterhole close by.

When the herd arrived at the waterhole, Sani and I's eyes were glued to two baby elephants amidst the grownups, playfully trying to climb over each other in a tangle of tiny trunks and legs as the others seemed to look on protectively.

I forced my eyes away, not slightly disappointed when they landed on a view just as, if not more beautiful: my husband. The only man on this planet who'd broken through the impenetrable fortress I'd built to shield my heart from the cruelty of this imperfect world we lived in. The only man I'd allowed to see the scars on my heart. A man that loved me with no conditions, never tried to change me, control me, break me. The only man whose arms made me feel truly safe. My friend. My lover. My protector. My peace. My joy. My heart in human form.

"Baby? Did you hear what I asked?" he said, his words bringing me back to reality.

"Sorry. I was lost in my thoughts."

"I see that." he chuckled and took a sip of his coffee. "What's on your mind?"

"You. How much you mean to me. How I wouldn't trade you for anybody else." I admitted, my voice quivering from the raw emotion.

"Good," he said, "because you're stuck with me."

Breakfast was pleasant and a great way to start our day, which Hasani promised would be a beautiful one as we re-entered the black SUV for our next stop; the hotel where we got married. There, Hasani had booked an all-inclusive spa treatment and ordered us the most delicious lunch to enjoy in our robes from the perimeter of a glamorous infinity pool that overlooked Musomi's scenic hills and valleys.

After lunch, the waitress came in with a box that Hasani insisted was a surprise. I opened it to find two slices of the exact cake we'd ordered for our wedding day. Never in my twenty-eight years on earth had I suspected that the sight of something baked would bring tears to my eyes, but there I was, sniffling as the familiar flavours burst in my mouth.

"Ugh..." I said as I swam into his arms shortly after lunch, our baby moving around enthusiastically as soon as our bodies came into contact. "You make me so happy, Sani. Thank you for today, and all the days we've had, and all the days that are coming."

"I'm glad I make you happy again." he mumbled against my ear. "That's always been the goal."

The kiss he gave me took my breath away. Literally. My chest rose and fell unevenly as his skilled tongue turned my insides into molten lava, burning just for him.

Hours later, I wasn't slightly surprised when Hasani drove up a hill with one of the security SUVs tailing us, the stars up here looking just as bright as I remembered as Hasani unfolded a blanket over us both and held a box of pizza out to me.

"I'm getting a house out here." he said quietly as he stared up at the sky, his chiseled face more relaxed than I'd ever seen it. "There's so much tranquility, such clean air. We can't live here, I know, 'cause it would be inconvenient. But we could come often, bring the kids, make it our special place to get away from the busyness of the city."

"Did you hear yourself?" I whispered, my mind on only one thing that stood out to me. "You said kids. Plural."

"I know." he smiled, turning his face to look at me. "It's not a mistake. I just know that this won't be our last."

My breath caught in my throat. The intensity in his eyes letting me know that this was a very big deal to him. Wherever this hunch came from, he fully believed it would come to pass.

"I've been praying over them every chance I get." Hasani said, his hand coming to rest on my bump. "All our children. I've been covering our family in prayer, and I just feel so much peace."

He was sure. Unshakable in his belief that our love would birth and grow more healthy, happy children, so I pushed away everything from the past that spoke against that possibility and allowed myself to believe, too.

"I'll be praying, too." I whispered.

"I love you." we said at the same time and burst into laughter, my heart already so full from the first couple of days we spent in Musomi.