Adira

I think of her often...beautiful Adira… What would she choose to be? Black? White? Albino?

This is her story…

After her husband and my best friend Reggie's, plane crashed while he was on a business trip, I, as Reggie's lawyer, called for Adira and Reggie's parents to come for the reading of the will. To say the least, I did not look forward to the meeting. Reggie was an only child to his parents and sole heir to the family's multi-billion company. Considering Adira's skin tone and that her social status was more middle class, she was not a accepted as a suitable wife for Reggie. But hey, Reggie decided “love was enough” and they eloped. Yet when Adira became pregnant with their daughter, he chose to bring Adira back and cut a deal with his parents. He told them he would take control of the family's assets as they wanted him to if they would put on a grand wedding for him and Adira showing everyone that they approved the wedding and accepted Adira into the family. The Smiths saw it as an ok deal, hence they agreed. Thinking about it now, it was probably one of the smartest moves Reggie had ever made. So anyway, the family officially accepted Adira into the family and shortly after, their daughter, Grace was born. All seemed to be going well, until Reggie went on a business trip to never return. His plane crashed and no bodies were recovered.

Reggie was my best friend since forever, and his death ripped me apart. But my heart truly went out to Adira who went into labor with their second child, Seth, from the news. It was a tough pass for her, especially since her in laws decided to take their grief out on her.

So yeah, I was not looking forward to us all being in the same room together.

But with or without my approval, the sun rose once again and the day dawned. At the beginning everyone was polite, not nice, but polite. And all I had to do to start a fire was to start reading the will. So I started by beating around the bush.

“How are you and little Seth doin, Adira? And Grace?”

“Oh. We're good thanks. Grace is keeping your secretary company.”

I chuckled as I rummaged through my papers. It was extremely unsettling that Mr. and Mrs. Smith weren't saying anything!

“How are you, Mr. and Mrs. Smith?” I said hopefully.

“As well as can be expected. Now get on with it! Quit stalling! Some if us actually have work to do.” Mrs. Smith snapped at me.

“Of course.” I answered as I tried to keep my calm. I once again straightened my papers and began.

“I'll just get to the heart of the matter. Um… basically, Reggie left the company and all its assets, and everything else he owned to Adira and their children. And he left a wholesome type of pension for you, his parents as well.”

There was a deadly silence. I began to countdown in my head the time left for the explosion…

10…

9…

8…

“WHATTT???” exclaims Mrs. Smith.

Rats! They didn't even let me finish my countdown.

“This...thing,” she said indignantly as she indicated Adira with a wave of her hand. “will be the face of our company???” She ended hysterically.

“Mrs. Smith,” I said as calmy as I could. “I'm sorry this upsets you but you and your husband did turn the company and all its assets over to Reggie, hence he was free to leave it to whomever he chose to.”

Mrs. Smith ignored me and turned on Adira who flinched slightly and cradled Baby Seth closer. I rose slightly in my chair, afraid Mrs. Smith might hurt them in her rage.

“This isn't over.” She hissed. “I'm going to bleed you dry.”

She and her husband left my office in a huff. I settled in my seat again.

“I hate to bring this up now, but uh...don't you find it weird that the old man said nothing the whole time? Kinda creepy.” I shivered exageratedly.

I got the effect I wanted as Adira smiled her adorable slow smile. Yeah, I'm half in love her. I admit it, alright?

“What am I supposed to do now?” She asked directly as worry and fear filled her eyes. “How am I supposed to raise these two kids alone and look after the company? Not to mention the entire situation with my mother in law?”

“Hey, hey, calm down, Addy. One thing at a time, alright?” I interrupted. “First of all, about the company, you just leave that to the board for now. They should be able to handle stuff for you and just come to you to sign stuff. So just keep yourself busy lookin after your babies. And as for your in laws, well, why don't you just move so they can't get to ya easy?”

She looked thoughtful for a second. “You're right.” She said finally. “I'll do that. Thank you, Jameson.” She said gratefully.

“Nah...it's the least I could do.”

As I walked her out, just as we reached the doorway, I just had to ask:

“Adira, if you had to choose, would you want to be black, white, or would you still wanna be an albino?”

She looked at me with an emotion I could not discern.

“I would choose to be loved and accepted for whatever I am.”

****************************