I Want Candy (56 page)

“Would you change religions if you met your future husband here?” Candy teased as she snapped another photo.

“In a heartbeat. I think the Muslim religion is beautiful. I just don’t agree with that mess about the women coverin’ up though,” Jasmine explained.

“It’s called a ‘hijab,’” a deep voice said loudly. Dallas, Candy, and Jasmine all looked around trying to find its source. “You’re special when you wear it. It means only your husband knows what’s underneath. You’re a treasure,” he continued.

The three women found the speaker, a tall, dark-tan man leaning against a wall with a newspaper rolled up under his arm. He had a thick, precisely cut goatee. His full, salmon colored lips, thick eyebrows, and long ebony lashes got all of their attention.

“It’s about control,” Jasmine said calmly. “You guys wanna control your women. I don’t have a problem being submissive, but when it comes to fashion, I enjoy it. I like jeans, gettin’ my hair done, and wearin’ makeup. It makes me feel pretty.”

“Typical attitude – you must be American,” he laughed. “You were pretty when you came out of your mother’s womb. Allah made you a model from day one. Your body, your hair, your lips bring men to their knees. I’m having impure thoughts right now because you’re strikingly beautiful and aren’t covered,” he smiled. “This is the truth,” he laughed. “My name is Abdul. I’d like to know the name of the woman I’m about to argue with this lovely night,” he said, his thick Arabic accent coating each syllable.

“Jasmine – my name is Jasmine,” she said, batting her eyelashes. Candy and Dallas looked at each other and burst out laughing. Abdul slowly walked up to the three women and stood close to Jasmine as he looked down at her.

“You’re so sexy!” Jasmine blurted out. Abdul smiled and laughed.

“So does this mean you are willing to have dinner with me this evening?” he asked as he pointed to a vibrant restaurant.

Jasmine looked at Dallas and Candy. “Girl, bye!” Dallas said as she grinned. “We’ll meet up with you later.”

“If you don’t hear from me in an hour, call the police!” Jasmine said as she walked away with Abdul.

Dallas and Candy continued walking, haggling with vendors and sampling sweet delicacies.

“Candy, you’ve done a great job with your weight. I’m glad to see you eating well again. I know you’ve been really stressed out with everything you’ve been goin’ through.”

“Yeah, I had a few nights of binging right after Gabriel and I called it quits but pulled myself back together. His personal chef showed me how to cook things with half the calories and fat. Plus, Gabriel made exercising fun. We’d go for romantic walks at midnight, bike rides in gorgeous places, swimming in his indoor pool. He’d even make me race him sometimes.” Candy laughed. “We used to play freeze tag. He’s so silly. Everything we did was fun. I lost weight and didn’t even realize I was losin’ it. I had no idea we were on an exercise plan together. He said afterwards it was best that I just see I could do it. He wanted me to enjoy food again, and I do. When we’d be in his home gym, we’d…” Candy reminisced, her eyes filling with tears. She stopped herself as she recalled him making love to her on his elliptical machine. She still wasn’t sure how they did it. “I really don’t have the desire to go down that road again. I wanna be healthy and feel good about myself. I don’t have the desire to eat like that again,” Candy explained.

Dallas
sat down on a bench. “I know you miss him so much. I hope you two can work it out. You really seem to love each other,” she yawned. Candy shrugged and looked aimlessly out into the distance.

“Girl, it’s been a long day,” Dallas said as she fanned herself.

“Yes it has!”

“Look, don’t consider me a party-pooper, but do you mind if we go back to the hotel? I’m so sleepy!” Dallas laughed.

“I need to go lie down anyway. Let’s go back,” Candy said as she hailed a cab.

* * *

“That bed felt like a cloud,” Dallas said as she paraded around the hotel brunch buffet, popping a slice of mango in her mouth and looking inquisitively at the pastries.

Jasmine took a drink of her apple juice. “It sure did.”

“Ladies, thank you so much for getting up a little earlier,” the head of the book club announced. “I know some of you still have a bit of jetlag from that twelve-hour flight, but I hope your bodies are adjusting well. We have two books that we’ll be discussing this trip. I’ve handed out the questionnaires. Look them over while you finish your meal, and we’ll discuss the answers later this afternoon.”

“How was your date?” Candy whispered to Jasmine as she placed the novel “Midnight Marauders in Cairo” on the table.

Jasmine grinned from ear to ear. “I think I finally met my match. Funny how he lives all the way across the world,” she laughed. “He said he wants to pay for me to fly back out here next month. He’s quite the charmer, and smart.”

“You forgot drop-dead gorgeous,” Dallas chimed in.

“That too,” Jasmine laughed. “He said he wants to come to America to visit me, too. He said some bullshit about how he’s gonna marry me. I think he’s full of shit, but regardless, he wants to see me again tonight. I’m excited,” Jasmine smiled.

“But we’ve got a group dinner,” Candy said.

“I’m gonna have to come up sick!” They all laughed. “Check this out. He owns a chain of music stores. We’re goin’ to eat dinner, then he’s gonna take me one of ’em. Too bad he doesn’t believe in premarital sex. I’ll see if I can talk him into it,” Jasmine laughed. “I wouldn’t mind gettin’ some Egyptian love before I leave!” Jasmine put her hands up in an Ancient Egyptian pose and swayed.

Candy shook her head and grinned. “Jas, you’re a mess. Something tells me he won’t need much coercin’. He looked at you like you were the last meal he’d ever have. I’m glad you’re enjoyin’ yourself.”

“I am. You know, even though you were here to get away from Quentin, I’m glad you came. It wouldn’t have been the same without you.” Jasmine grabbed her hand and squeezed it.

“I’m glad I came, too. I would’ve been missin’ out. Quentin will have a restrainin’ order waitin’ for him soon. Speakin’ of which, I’m so afraid to talk to Gabriel, but I know you two were right. I hope that after he hears what I have to say, maybe we can at least be friends.”

“I hope so, too. Better yet, he’ll understand, and you two can get back together,” Jasmine said. Dallas nodded as she heard her own words from the previous night being repeated.

“It would be nice, but that’s probably just a pipe dream,” Candy smiled painfully.

“Well, at least this fabulous hotel will help take away your worries. This place is gorgeous!” Dallas said as she took another sip of her iced coffee.

“It sure is. Anyway, I’m finished eating. I’m gonna go back to my room. I’ll meet you two later on, is that cool? I wanna finish this last chapter so I can answer these questions,” Candy said as she stood up and returned her dirty plate and cup.

“Fine by me.” Dallas waved good bye.

* * *

Candy sluggishly walked out of the dining area and stepped on the elevator. She looked through the glass at all the hotel guests mulling about in the lobby as she went higher and higher. Her eyes fixated on a beautifully adorned Egyptian woman dressed in red and gold, holding a newborn baby. The doors opened to her floor. Candy stepped out and looked at the intricate pattern of the rug as she approached her room. She looked up, gazing out a large window next to her door, admiring the Giza pyramid. “Maybe I’ll go for a swim later in that gorgeous pool,” Candy said to herself.

Taking out her hotel key, she unlocked the door and entered. Before she could hit the light switch, she stopped in her tracks. She heard light music playing in the background.

‘I know I didn’t leave the radio on,’ she thought as she closed the door slowly behind her. Looking down, she noticed enormous rose petals strewn about. They were white with pink edges. Her heart thumped. She put her hand up to her mouth and continued to walk tentatively into the room. As she got closer to the bed, she distinctly heard the lyrics to the song “You” by Jesse Powell. She looked down at the bed which was covered in golden flakes and more white rose petals. There on the pillow was a black velvet gift box with a large, white satin bow. She cautiously picked it up and beheld it. She looked around the room hesitantly.

“Who’s here?” she asked timidly. She received no answer. Under the box was a note that read “Open Me.” Candy slowly removed the bow and opened the lid. Another note lie inside. She unfolded it, reading it aloud. A familiar scent wafted from the pale yellow stationery.

Here I am.

Your treasure is hid.

Walk directly towards the pyramid.

 Candy looked around and walked towards the window where the pyramid could be clearly seen. On the window sill she spotted a gold charm bracelet with two hearts. She smiled and picked it up. As she brought it closer, she could see a bell between the two hearts. There was something protruding from it – a small, rolled piece of paper. Candy removed it and read the message inside:

You can now see my heart is truly yours.

You never have to hurt, not trust, nor worry.

Find one more declaration of my love.

This is not a fairytale or fable.

I am your shining knight.

Walk to the table, and you shall see.

Candy’s eyes darted quickly around the room as she tried to see which table the note referred to. On the other side of the bed was a table. On it was a box of chocolates with a sealed silver envelope on top of it. She ran over to it, tearing it open.

Don’t ever doubt my love for you. Nothing hurt me more than your not being in my life. Because you loved me, you hid from me the reality of your new-found prison. You consistently try to soothe the wounds of others while neglecting yourself until the pain becomes so great that you withdraw. I love you anyway and always will.

You hurt me with your “good-bye,” but you had me at your first “hello.” On your second interview, I was asked to listen in since you would be working directly under me. I didn’t realize that you would literally be under me in the future. (I had to add a bit of humor to this letter because laughter is healing.) I remember exactly what you wore: a navy-blue skirt, crisp white shirt, and three-inch heels that were nearly too sexy for an interview. Around your neck hung a small silver heart. The bracelet you have found matches it exactly. Your beautiful dark-brown hair was pulled back from your face, exposing one of the most elegant necks I had ever seen. You sat there, nervous, hoping you would get the job. Your experience and charm won everyone over. You beat out eight other candidates. I remember what you wore because I was married, but not dead. I didn’t lust after you or pursue you. I was more interested in your performance. I simply admired your beauty and went on with my day.

Over the years, I tried to salvage a marriage that just wasn’t meant to be, not realizing you were enduring the same tragic situation. Our lives were mirror images of one another. The day I realized I was in love with you was one of the most liberating days of my life. I recall it distinctly. I realized your heart was breaking, and I couldn’t comfort you the way I wanted to. I wanted to hug and kiss you, wrap you up in my arms, and tell you how I felt. I went back and forth asking myself why I’d jeopardize everything just to tell you how I felt about you. I knew I had to eventually, or I’d never be free from the grip you had on my heart. And now, here we are, a couple no more. You may have left me, but I have not left you.