His gaze flashed to Arie. “Are you okay? Did she try to hurt you?”
Then, before she could even respond he was back on Iyana, demanding to know what she was doing there. “Give it up, Iyana,” he growled. “Coming here to harass Arie is not going to make me love you. In fact, if you’re trying to make me hate you, you’re doing a damn good job.”
With the fascination of an observer at a street brawl Arie watched as, with every word Rome uttered, Iyana seemed to wilt right in front of him, slipping deeper and deeper into despair. She stood frozen, staring at Rome in obvious shock and pain.
All of a sudden Arie couldn’t take it. Right in the middle of the tirade she walked over to the crestfallen Iyana and put a hand on her arm. She looked over at Rome and gave a quick shake of her head, which meant he’d said enough. “There’s no problem here,” she told him. “Iyana and I were just having a little talk. Now make yourself comfortable,” she said as she steered the shell-shocked woman toward the door, “while we ladies finish our business outside.”
And as they went out she slid a comforting arm around Iyana’s shoulder, knowing that Rome must think her the craziest woman on earth.
***
A whole week passed before she was able to clear Iyana’s look of devastation from her mind. The woman had caused her pain but that didn’t stop Arie from feeling sorry for her. That was why she’d comforted her in the face of her fiancé’s fury.
Of course, on the day of the incident as soon as she’d returned to the office he’d demanded to know what the exchange had been about.
“The woman loved you, Rome. We both know that now. Mind you, she went about things the wrong way, but what you said,” she shook her head, “you were pretty tough on her. What she did was wrong but she’s human.”
A couple of seconds passed as Rome seemed to contemplate her words but then he cocked his head to one side and this time he was regarding her with a hint of bewilderment. “You’re not angry with her?”
Arie lifted her shoulders then let them fall. It wasn’t so much a shrug as a movement reflecting her own confusion. “I guess I don’t hate her. For a moment I put myself in her shoes and I thought, why wouldn’t she fall for you? I can’t be the only one who sees what a great man you are.” Then she smiled. “Not to mention, deliciously handsome.”
That made Rome smile, too, the granite in his face softening. “So you’ve forgiven her?”
The question made Arie think and, to her own surprise, the answer came back positive. “I guess I have. I don’t respect what she tried to do when she found out about me but I can’t hate her for it.” Then she shrugged. “Nobody’s perfect, right?”
With a smile, Rome went to her and pulled her into his arms. “Except you,” he said as he dipped his head to give her kiss. “You’re one in a million.”
That had made her feel good but even more important she was relieved that things were now back to normal between the two of them. Now they were one week closer to their wedding and, most exciting of all, Maya would be home at the end of the month.
That evening Rome swung by the house as they’d planned. There was so much to do. They were preparing for a wedding and a family, both at the same time. Thankfully, the decoration of the nursery was already done but they still had to get one or two pieces, such as a changing table and a diaper pail, then they would be ready to welcome their daughter into her new home.
Her fiance was all smiles as he walked in the door. “How’s my favorite girl?”
She happily walked into his embrace. “How’s my favorite guy?”
He kissed the top of her head then gently put her away from him and held out a brown box. “I’ve got something for you.”
Her eyes lit up. “What is it?”
He shrugged. “I have no idea.”
She laughed. “You’re the one giving it to me. If anyone should know what’s in that box it should be you.”
“But this box came from Amazon, delivered to my office this morning, with your name on it. You didn’t order anything from them?”
“Nope, not that I can recall. And even if I did, why would I give them your office address?”
Rome gave her a weird look. “You’d better stay here,” he said, heading off in the direction of the kitchen. “I don’t want you near when I open this box. Can’t be too careful.”
“And what about you?” Arie began but Rome had already disappeared, leaving her standing there, uncertain and just a little bit scared.
Seconds later he called out to her. Immediately she scurried off toward him, heart pounding just a little, but when she saw his huge grin her apprehension melted away.
“What is it?” she asked, curiosity now getting the better of her. She went over to peer into the box but Rome saved her the trouble when he lifted out something soft and puffy and yellow and held it up high.
“It’s for Maya,” he said. “Her first little blankie.”
“From your parents?” She took the note he held out to her. She peered at it then read out loud, “I know what you did for me. Thank you for your forgiveness. Here is a gift for the little one. Wishing you safe delivery. God bless! Iyana.” Her gaze flew to Rome. “Iyana?”
“Iyana,” he said with a smile. “It looks like she wants to help us welcome the baby home.” Then he chuckled. “One day she overheard me say something about the baby so I guess she put two and two together. Apparently, she thinks you’re pregnant. ”
But that wasn’t what had caught Arie’s attention. She looked back at the note. “I know what you did for me?” She lifted her gaze and gave Rome a pointed look. “When I asked you to use your contacts to get her another job I didn’t want you to tell her. You said you wouldn’t.”
Immediately, he lifted his hands as if in self-defense. “I didn’t. I swear. She must have guessed.”
She pondered that for a second and then she nodded. “She probably did.”
But then Rome broke into her thoughts. “Why did you do it, Arie? After what she did, why did you ask me to help her?”
She smiled then took the blanket from Rome’s fingers and began to stroke its softness. “Iyana has a lot to worry about right now. You told me she’s caring for her sick grandfather. Now is not the time for her to be without a job.” She gave him a gentle smile. “I’m glad you were able to help.”