CHAPTER 43: HOMECOMING

HARLEM

I stare at the wash hand basin positioned in front of me, then check my watch after a beat. Fine, yes. I bailed. But it’s better than telling The Perfect Ezra Roth that I haven’t spoken to my father in about 4 years because he tried marrying me off to someone older than him. Or that I got disowned. Or better yet, that I ran away from home with basically nothing except for my brothers looking out for me (Bless their hearts). He doesn’t need to see or hear that part of my life... even though, I’m supposed to offer it to him as payment?

He is so weird, I swear. I check my Apple watch again and it’s been 15 minutes since I’ve been ’in the toilet’. How long does it take to get to another country in the same continent for Christ sakes?

I pour cold water on my face to erase the traces of sleep. I wasn’t kidding when I said I didn’t get any last night. The jitters are killing me, literally.

The plane moves downward and I hurriedly take a seat on the toilet and clutch it to avoid being tossed. Finally, we’re landing. I wash my hands again when we stabilize and step out. I come face to face with one of the drop-dead gorgeous air hostesses. "Sorry, I was worried about you. Landings can be rough so I wanted to make sure you were safe. You’re actually meant to be strapped for this part." She says smiling sweetly at me.

I chuckle awkwardly at her "Oh um. Thanks? Needed a minute in there. But I’m fine so we’re good." I reply and side step her to move toward where the chairs are. It does feel weird moving around in a plane but it’s not a bad experience and I’m glad the staff are kind enough to look after me.

I push the curtain aside and see Ezra looking in this direction already with a worried expression on his face. Once we make eye contact, he unstraps his belt and walks towards me, looking slightly pissed might I add.

"I thought when you said you were going to go to the toilet; it was going to be a five-minute thing?" he asks standing in front of me.

"Uhh, maybe I had to go number two?" I mentally facepalm. THAT’S what I say?

He sighs "But it’s dangerous to not strap in when landing. I was worried, I even had to send a hostess over. Are you okay? You’re not hiding any injuries from me, are you?" he takes my shoulders and looks all over me like there might be a huge part of me missing.

"I’m fine. I just... REALLY had to go. And the landing was fun. You can thank the pilot for me though. He sure knows what he’s doing." I say and chuckle slightly to ease the mood but it only makes the crease between his eyebrows deepen.

"We will talk about this later, for sure, but now we have to exit the plane and get to the hotel. Let’s go, Tamrin." He says, taking my hand and dragging me along. I blink incredulously and follow along.

The plane stopped a while ago so our luggage has already been moved out. We exit the plane and we enter a car brought to us by a chauffeur. Classy.

I’m quiet the entire way because what the hell am I supposed to say to him anyway? And I’m literally just thinking about how this wedding is going to be but I do plan to enjoy myself so hopefully, great.

My phone rings and I see it’s my mom. Ezra looks at me like he’s expecting me to answer. I roll my eyes and face the window.

"Hey Mom." I answer.

"Harlem. My baby. Are you in Poland yet?" she asks. I smile slightly.

"Yes mama. We just arrived. I and... a friend. I told Zeke to let you know."

"Oh yes. He told me. You guys are coming over for dinner, right?" she asks.

I stare at the tall buildings we pass on our way to the hotel. "Uhh. Sure. When?"

"Oh, goodie. I’ll make the table bigger. Your father is not around by the way, he will be back tomorrow. Also, is your friend a vegetarian or something?" she asks.

I sigh and turn to the said friend and he’s already staring at me. Intensely. "You’re not vegetarian. Are you?" I whisper to him and he shakes his head and I nod.

Turning back to the window I say "Nope. Do your thing."

She asks me bout other things and we end the call. "We’re having dinner?" Ezra asks. I startle because I almost forgot he was here. Almost.

"Yup. That’s what we’re looking at. In an hour actually." I say and he nods.

"After we drop our things at the hotel. I’ll drive us there. That okay?" he asks and I nod.

----

I stare at our three-story house I used to live in with my parents. We headed straight here after dropping off our luggage in the hotel; which is one of the best hotels in Warsaw by the way. Rich people have taste. I’ll give us that.

Ezra seems to be very quiet the whole time. He’s not asking any questions, thankfully. Because I’m still trying to soak in the fact that I’m back here again after years. Especially after everything I’ve been through.

Before we can take another step forward, Violet bursts out and beelines for me. Startled, I stand still as she engulfs me in a warm hug that smells like her Strawberry incense scent.

"Harlem!! I’m so happy you could make it. We’ve been waiting for you. Christ, you look stunning; like the super model you are. It feels so good to have another woman my age around, for real. Oh, who’s your friend?" she rushes out. One would think I’m the one getting married.

"I missed you too Vi. And this is Ezra, my... friend." I wince because it’s obvious I didn’t think this through. I see Ezra smirk from my periphery.

"Hey, I’m Violet. It’s nice to meet you, Ezra. I’m the bride by the way. Wow, you’re really handsome." she says offering him her hand and I smile. I truly did miss her; we actually all went to the same college; I, Zeke, Zoran and Violet. Even though they were all above me but that’s how Zo and Violet became acquainted actually. Funny how they’re getting married... after much breakup and beefs in the past, but we’re not getting into that right now.

"Thank you and a pleasure to meet you, Violet. Congratulations on your upcoming nuptials." Ezra says like we’re in a business meeting. I look at him, cringing slightly.

Violet smiles at him and side glances at me. I bite my lip and look away; trying not to laugh.

"Thank you, Ezra. You’re a special personality, I like that. Let’s go in guys." She says. Ezra looks like he can’t tell if it was a compliment or not. It was.

We follow her into my house and I realize how much I feel like a stranger in my own house and how long it has been.

I walk in and see Zoran and Zeke seated at the couch watching TV and discussing something heatedly. When they notice my presence, they both shoot up and come hug me.

"Hey guys. How’s it been?" I say while I’m being hugged to death by Zoran who finally releases me and Zeke proceeds to ruffle my hair and give me a short hug.

"Missed you a lot, sis." Zeke says and Zoran nods while dragging Vi to his side.

"Same here. It’s good to be back." I say just as Mom walks out of the kitchen and stops when she sees me. I smile at her and her eyes begin to water and she places her hand over her mouth as she begins sobbing at the sight of me. Guess I know where I got my acting skills from. My mother is tall, like me. Slim, pale skin as well but with short hair and dark brown eyes. She looks like someone who might not have had any children. She’s stunning.

I walk up to her and wrap my arms around her. I missed her so much. Missed this. We hug for a few minutes and the others just stand and watch us.

"My girl. I’m so happy you came home. Every day, I beat myself up for letting what happened happen. I’m really sorry, Harlem. I let you down and I take full responsibility for it." She says.

"Mama, its fine. Please stop crying. It’s not your fault. And I’m back for real now, it’s all in the past." I tell her and she sobs some more.

After everyone calmed down, we moved to the dining where the maid was setting up the table and I remembered I hadn’t introduced Ezra. I look at him and he seems to be in deep thought; looking around with his hands in his pocket, trailing slowly behind. He looks a bit uncomfortable but he’s masking it pretty well. We make eye contact and I smile at him and he reciprocates.

"Umm, guys? This is Ezra, he’s my friend from Germany. He owns a business and was acquainted to my boss from the play I did. Ezra this is my mother, Zeke and Zoran; the twins." I gesture towards them.

Ezra steps forward and offers his hand to the twins, which they take, and bows slightly to my mother. Is he AI?

My mother is having none of that though. She engulfs him in her arms and he looks shocked but hugs her back. "Welcome to the Tamrin family, love. You’re very good looking. Have I seen you somewhere before?" my mother asks him.

He stutters and that’s probably the only time I will ever hear it. "Wait. Are you Ezra Roth? CEO of a multi-millionaire company?" Zoran asks him. Uh Oh.

"Multi-millionaire?" my mother mutters looking at him, like she’s trying to read his mind. I’m about to step in and try to dissuade the situation because everyone is looking at him like he just sprouted a second head when he speaks up. "Yes, that’s me. I met Harlem while working."

I look at him and see he’s smiling and I calm down because I almost forgot this was Ezra Roth and he can take care of any situation.

They nod and go back to sitting down. Ezra and I sit down besides each other and his fingers brush mine and all of a sudden, I’m reminded why he’s sitting here and it’s not just me. We make eye contact and he’s looking at me in a way I can’t decipher. I break it before anyone notices. Too late though because Violet is looking at us with narrowed eyes and a smile I’m not interested in reciprocating. I look away and focus on the food being served.