“Yas, this is the event of the season! Which is why you must simply slay tonight!” I was buzzing with excitement.
First, Gabe gifted me with my land, then the positive sign from the pregnancy test, then Mac’s beautiful compliment, now this. It’s true. I’ve never had a birthday party. My grandma and grandpa didn’t believe that one should celebrate their birthdays.
My pa-pa said every day belonged to God, and it was just vain for people to think that the day of their birth should be celebrated year after year. Up until now, I hadn’t thought much about it. But now that I knew they were planning me a birthday party, I was super thrilled.
I gave into Stacy and told her to do her thing when it came down to helping me prepare for tonight.
“Wait! Stacy.” I said grabbing her hand before she could turn on her shopping turbo. Once that happened, it would be too late to try and stop her.
“Whole dresses this time. None of that stuff like my wedding dress. I was uncomfortable the whole night.” She looked at me for a minute, clearly unhappy with my statement.
“But sweetheart, the truly flawless are never comfortable!”
I laughed at her before I hugged her close. I was too happy to even begin to be bothered by her madness. I would let her do her thing. If it got out of hand, I would just have to put my foot down. She dragged me from store to store before finally finding the one.
“Oh! This is it, Yas!” She fingered the fine material of the African print dress. “We can give you the African princess look! Yes!” She clapped her hands and did a little dance.
“Wait, I can do African theme too… oh! I can’t wait! We are going to slay tonight!”
* * * * *
Gabriel
I was finishing up the last of my work for the day when the knock came on the door. I barely glanced away from my computer as my hands flew across the keyboard. I was running late. I still needed to put on the damn tuxedo and pick Yasmin up from Stacy’s so that I can escort her to her surprise party that was being held at the Four Seasons.
“Boss, there’s a guy here to see you. He said you’ve been expecting him.” Flint said, sticking his head in my door. I frowned shaking my head.
“I’m not expecting anyone. He’s going to have to make an appointment with me for Monday. I need to get dressed for the party.” Flint nodded, backed up for a minute, but then stuck his head back in the door.
“He says he’s only in town for the night.” I sat back in my chair, giving him my full attention.
“What’s his name?”
“Solomon.”
I started to shake my head and tell him I didn’t know any Solomon, but then I remembered that Solomon was one of the great kings of the past. The familiar stranger’s words came back to me.
“I’m going to send a king to you. When you see him, go with him. He can help you.”
“Let him in.” Flint nodded and opened the door wider. An athletically built light skinned brother with long freshly twisted locs walked through the door. He was dressed in a tuxedo as if he too was going to a party. He smiled at me and I knew instantly that he was either a politician, a lawyer or a salesman. His eyes were too sharp. He missed nothing.
“Hey… Gabriel, is it?” He asked holding his hand out to me.
“Yeah.” I shook it. “Have a seat.”
“I appreciate that.” He undid his jacket button and eased down into the chair across from my desk. The way he sat down, evenly distributing his weight, let me know he was also a fighter. Although appearing relaxed, his body was ready.
“How can I help you?” I wasn’t overly friendly. I didn’t like strangers, and I didn’t like the fact that I was actually giving ear to anything the mystery man had to say.
“I came a little early so that I could get a chance to talk with you before—”
“Look, let’s skip all the bullsh*t. I’m late picking up my wife for her surprise party! I told the man in the cowboy hat that I’m not interested in his brotherhood. I fight my own battles. I have my own brothers. And I’m my own power! Now, did anything you have to say have anything to do with what I just mentioned?” He looked at me startled for a moment, before he actually began to chuckle.
I frowned sitting up in my chair, fighter or not, I will hurt this dude if he thought I was the type to be laughed at.
“What’s so funny?” I growled, feeling my temper beginning to boil. He rubbed his eyes as if he was suddenly tired, but still he chuckled.
“Nothing… it’s just that one day when you’ve become a better man, you’re going to want to kick yourself for the words you just said.”
“What words?!”
“That you were your own power.” He held up his hands. “How can that be, when you don’t even control your next breath?” I sat back in my chair folding my hands on my stomach.
“I control what goes on in my world, in my environment and that’s enough for me.” He nodded throwing up his hands.
“Hey Man, I ain’t beating you up about it, I used to think the same way. The only thing I had more than money was arrogance.”
I grunted, taking in his expensive tux and soft leather boots. Yeah, he wasn’t lying about coming from money. But if you asked my opinion, arrogance was not something he had but something he has.
“You ever
