Two Princes and a choice

Chapter Thirteen

‘I’m sorry,’ James finally said to his wife over breakfast. He knew she was upset over yesterday’s discussion on William but all he wanted to show her was that she was being unusually cruel. He didn’t mind that he wasn’t the father of the boy and even loved that lad but the resentment Yemisi had for the boy, her first born son got to him. She had had him banned from the palace over a little misunderstanding.

Yemisi waved away the woman who poured orange juice into her cup. The maid carried the jug to the side board and stood there. ‘There is no need to apologize,’ she smiled sweetly at him. She hated it when they quarrel, hates it even more when William was the cause of it. He was just like his father always causing trouble. ‘Let’s not bring him up while we eat,’ she suggested and lifted the cup of juice to her mouth.

It had been five years. Five years since had been banned by his mother from the palace because of her other son his half-brother Tan. The palace is exactly as he recalled. He strode through the courtyard to the entrance. He could see the palace staffs exchanging glances and whispering. He could tell what they were saying Prince William has returned.

Hakeem the major domo was berating a palace maid who was cowering. He smiled it had also been five years since he seen this strait, kind old man last. The old man looked up and his usual passive expression registered an expression of disbelief followed by pleasure. Prince William has returned.

The man moved away from the equally surprised maid and came to him arms opened wide. Will received the hug with smile holding the wiry old body tight in his arms. His eyes grew misty.

Hakeem drew back, his eyes glazed; he patted the younger boy’s cheek. ‘It’s you my boy,’ he said.

Will nod,’ yes it is me.’

‘You have returned?’

Will nod again ‘sure,’ he said.

Yemisi was munching on a well-buttered toast trying to banish the thoughts of William from her mind without succeeding. The thoughts kept slipping in as she did all she could to shut it out. She began to feel a shred of guilt for chasing out a boy of fourteen to live alone. Well, he is fourteen quite a young man, she defended but still the thought gnawed on her nibbling her soul.

She glanced up at James, he was perusing a newspaper, she started to say something when the door flung open and Hakeem came striding in followed closely by the last person she would ever want to see in heaven and on earth. William. Her eyes widened in shocked surprise and then in anger.

He was smiling, and looked exactly like his father. And he had ridiculous piercings. She looked at James; he had put down his newspaper and was smiling at the boy.

‘Your majesties,’ Hakeem bowed bending half of his body, he was beaming. ‘Prince Will has returned,’ he announced.

James stood up, went to the boy and hugged him. He drew back. ‘So my boy you have returned?’ he demanded.

Will glanced over at his mother, she was sitted frozen in her seat, that odd mix of emotions clear on her face anger, shock, surprise. His smile widened and he declared in a loud voice, ‘Yes your majesty, I have returned home.’

Hayley wasn’t sure if she could keep up with this. Though she had promised herself she would stay home today but she wasn’t sure if she could go through it. She had woken up eight in the morning when the café would open and her mind wandered over to the café. Stop it, she chided herself. You are to relax today. She went through her morning chores, read her mum’s apology note and smiled. She took her bathe dress up and ate. She laid on her back on the bed her eyes roaming the lines on the ceiling and she slowly counted cracks in them. But she was restless. She had gone online but none of the other muses were online. She logged out.

She had never been without work before, maybe she had once but it had been so long that her body wasn’t used to loafing about. She wandered about looking for work to do but there was nothing to do. She brought out scrabble and started to play trying to take her mind off work. But it didn’t work. Her hands were shaking. And as time went by she thought she was going crazy.

At mid-day she broke that promise. She can’t do it, relax. It was twelve and her shift at the café had ended but her shift at the chicken palace just began. If she hurried, she’ll get only minimal complaint about tardiness. Hayley didn’t think twice as she work chicken palace’s staff green jersey shirt with a large yellow chicken printed on the front waving its wings and wearing baseball boots. The words Chicken Palace was inscribed on the back.

Putting the cap on, she grabbed her bag her cell, took the keys and locked the door behind her. She placed the keys in its usual place in the hibiscus vase. She hurried to work.

Will eyes roamed about the place. His room. It was just has he had left it when his mum had in a flurry of rage packed him off with the flimsiest of excuse. He fingered the fabric of the curtain; it was still the same shade of cream. The room was done in cream and red with hint of gold. His best colour. His eyes went up to the honey comb chandelier with honey like crystals and to the bees sconces.

Hakeem was behind him and he could hear the man breathing behind him. He had had breakfast with his mother and step father, his mother glaring at him most of the time. Angry that he has come again to ruin her perfect life. But that wasn’t his intention. He had had coffee with James in a private salon where they had talked and a walk in the garden. The man was asking questions about how he had been and so on.

‘Everything is exactly how you left it,’ Hakeem said.

‘Yes,’ Will agreed walking into the living room in his chambers, ‘everything is as I left it.’

‘But, your highness you didn’t bring any luggage along. Should I sent someone to get them in your flat?’ he suggested.

Will trailed his fingers along the wooden wall. ‘Don’t worry, I’ll get them myself.’ He turned and smiled at him. ‘Thank you Hakeem.’

‘It’s my pleasure son, you should rest luncheon will be in two hours.’

‘I’m not staying for lunch,’ he informed him. ‘I have things to clear up.’

‘Of course.’ The man bowed and left Will to his thoughts.

It was 25 minutes to one when she got to the chicken palace. Thirty five minutes late, she thought as she snuck in through the back door. She could hear her boss on the phone as she crept past his office to the lockers. She was typing in her password when she heard the office door open. She froze.

‘Hayley!’ he called behind her, sounding surprised. ‘What are you doing here?’ he demanded.

Hayley took a breath and turned round. ‘Good afternoon boss, I’m sorry I’m late I – ‘

‘What are you doing here?’ he repeated interrupting her, ‘your mum called and said you are sick. So what are you doing her instead of resting? You do look sick.’

Bless you mum. ‘I know but I’m strong enough now to work.’ She told him.

‘No you are not’ he refused. ‘You look like you could faint right now.’ He was staring at her worried. ‘Go home Hayley, rest. You need it, and I’m not about to lose my best worker it’ll be on my conscience.’

Hayley nodded, she was really feeling weak at the moment but she still wants to work. ‘Okay, sir.’

‘Hayley,’ Yemi one of the waiters came in. ‘Glad you are here.’ He glanced at the boss and then at her.

‘What is it?’ the boss demanded.

‘Er, we have an order of barbecue chicken and I’m a bit shorthanded so I was thinking Hayley could deliver it.’ he said.

‘Hayley is a bit – ‘the boss began.

‘I’ll do it,’ she interrupted and smiled at her boss. ‘After I’ll go home.’ She promised him.

‘This is the address,’ Yemi gave her a piece of paper. ‘Come to the kitchen to take the chicken.’

Hayley was feeling more than weak as she ran to deliver the chicken to the person who had ordered it. She inwardly slapped herself for not remembering to collect transport fare. But who knows she might have collapsed in the car at her rate of weakness.

Almost there, she thought as she raced into the building, for the elevator. Her neck was sweaty and her braid sticking to the nape. Her wild heartbeat slowed to normal in the lift as she leant against the door fighting the unconsciousness that was threatening to overpower her. The door pinged open and she stepped out. She glanced at the piece of paper in her hand, number 2b. She came to the door, lifted her hand and knocked.

The door opened. ‘Delivery from chicken palace,’ she held out the box to him. ‘Your order of barbecue chicken ‘– she looked up and her eyes widened in surprise. ‘You!’

Will looked down into her eyes. ‘Hayley! You look pale!’ he remarked.

‘Here is your chicken, its five Pounds.’ She told him as he took it.

‘What happened to you?’ he was worried, she was thin, pale her eyes large in their sockets and as if she was about to die any minute now. He handed the bill to her.

‘I’m just a little tired.’ She told him. ‘Nothing major. I’ll be going.’

‘Did you run all the way here?’

She nodded. ‘Hm hmm, bye, then.’

‘Wait. I’ll drop you off.’

‘No, I don’t want to be a bother. Enjoy your chicken.’

She had already become a bother showing up at his front door like a haunted ghost. ‘It’s not a bother, I’ll drop you off. I can’t let you run all the way back looking like a haunted person.’ A smile crossed over her face. She started to say something but he had grabbed his keys and dumped the chicken on a table. ‘Let’s go,’ he took her hand in his, so fragile and led her to the lift.

Will followed her in to give her boss the money. The man eyed him and Hayley introduced him as Will a friend. The man handed her, her pay check for today. Though Hayley refused it saying she had done nothing but he had insisted so that she agreed.

‘I’ll take you home,’ he said.

Hayley took a few steps away, ‘No, you’ve done enough I’ll go home myself.’

‘And how will you do that? I’m guessing you will trek.’

She nodded. ‘Yes.’

‘You can hardly walk did you know that?’ he pointed out to her.

She didn’t reply but took a step away.

‘And you are saying you want to trek home. If I let you go and you collapse do you think my conscience will be at rest?’

‘It’s not; I’m going on my own volition so if l collapses it will be on my conscience and moreover my home is that way yours in the opposite direction.’ She argued pointing forward and backward. ‘So be on your way. Safe journey.’

‘Are you even listening to yourself?’ she was unsteady on her feet, growing paler every passing moments. He took a step forward. ‘You should go to the hospital.’ He told her.

‘No, I’ll just go home and take drugs and seep. I’ll be ok when I wake up. And don’t follow.’

No she won’t. ‘You should go to the hospital.’ He repeated firmly.

‘I don’t want to, I just want to sleep.’

‘I’ll take you.’

‘Where?’ she swayed slightly feeling weaker.

‘The hospital.’

‘Don’t I don’t want to be a bother.’

‘You are not, so I’ll take you.’

She was feeling faint, very faint so she couldn’t argue again. She nodded in agreement he could take her, she couldn’t care less she just wants to sleep. She didn’t register when she climbed into the seat behind him. Wrapped her arm around him and rested her head on his back. All she registered was scent of lemon and wind whipping her hair back.

The doctor, an old acquaintance of James attended to Hayley and diagnosed her as fatigued and malnourished and dehydrated. He told her a good rest will do her good and he told asked Will to keep let her eat plenty of fruits and eat nourishing food. He prescribed some drugs to her which Will collected from the pharmacy.

‘Thank you for your help,’ Hayley said as they made their way out of the pharmacy. ‘I’ll be on my way now.’

‘I’ll take you,’ he told her.

‘I’ll go myself.’

‘Let’s not start this arguing again because frankly I have the upper hand.’

‘What?’

‘You are sick, looking like you might faint any moment now, the doctor said you are not okay and that you need looking after.’ He listed.

‘He said I need a good rest,’ she corrected.

‘Same thing.’

‘It’s not the same thing actually.’

‘Do you really love arguing?’

‘Yup, in fact I wanna be a lawyer when I grow up and I love wining so go home I’m not going to back away easy.’

He snorted.

‘Bye and thanks a lot.’

She walked away and Will could see her sway slightly and then again. She placed her hand against the wall for support. She stumbled again and swayed. Will rushed to her catching her before she could fall.

The last thing Hayley felt before she fainted was solid chest beneath her cheek and then heard heartbeat. Loud. she fainted.

The smell of honey hung heavy in the air along with smell of vanilla and roses. The scents tingled Hayley’s nostrils. She smiled in sleep and snuggled close burrowing into the soft mattress. She was in a dream world surrounded by clouds and nice scents. Sunny sky. She was sitting on one cloud reaching out to the flowers with her hands. They burst open spurting fragrance onto her face; she closed her eyes inhaling the scent.

Hayley’s eyes fluttered open; she moaned and turned on the bed stretching her arms out she knew she was in Will’s house. She tucked her hands beneath her cheeks burrowing into the pillow even more. She closed her eyes for some moments and opened it. Her eyes fell on a golden giant hive sitting at the far end of the room, a large arch in front. Hayley though it looked strange, she half rose from the bed supporting herself by planting her hands on the bed. Giant bees hung down from the ceiling, the chandelier had bees as bulbs too. She looked down at the blanket bees were on it too. And were also on the night shirt she was wearing, she glanced down even the slippers are bees. Is Will so obsessed with bees? She got out of bed and moved around.

The shelf was crammed full with books on bees, Bee pollination, Apiary Science, Bee Legend Around the World and also the ones she had seen the first time she came here.

She heard song coming behind the door from the living room.

Will was in the kitchen whisking something. He looked up as she closed the door. ‘You are awake at last.’

‘What do you mean by that? Didn’t you expect me to wake up? Thank you.’

‘You are welcome. You’ve been asleep for a couple of hours,’ he pointed with a wooden spoon to the wall clock. She looked it was past six. So much time has passed. ‘You aren’t going to argue and ask why I brought you here instead of taking you home.’

She sat down on a stool before the island counter. ‘I’m too tired to argue,’ she told him. ‘What are you doing?’

‘Cooking. You need to eat. I’m making deep pan cheese omelette, its light and filled with nutrients.’

‘Can I help?’

‘Sit down and act tired.’

‘Do you like bees?’ she asked him after some minutes.

‘Yes, why do you ask?’

‘When I first came here I saw books on bees on the table and that was your room I slept in right?’ he nodded. ‘Your décor is of bees and I saw book on bees. And by the way why does your air freshener smell of honey vanilla and rose?’

He tapped the whisk on the bowl’s rim. ‘Because I like their scent. Why?’

‘They are girl’s things.’

‘Girls things boys things there is nothing like that to me.’ He removed a pan from the hanging.

‘Why do you like bees?’

‘Why the questions?’ he asked back.

‘You said I should act tired.’

‘Is this the way to act tired? You supposed to be resting your head not firing questions at me.’ He turned on the stove.

‘I just asked you two questions and you haven’t answered the other. Why do you love bees?’

‘Because they are like a family.’ He poured oil into the pan. ‘They depend on each other; their world is meaningless without each other. The drones have to live for the growth of the hive, the workers the wellbeing and the queen,’ he paused for a second ‘well the queen lives for the development of the hive so they are linked. The queen’s duty is meaningless without the drones, the hive will fall into extinction, and the hive will starve without the worker. Everyone has their uses there. And I also like them for their hard work, they don’t sleep, don’t have breaks. Helps the world without asking for anything in return. Their selfless deeds deserve a medal.’ He took the bowl of eggs from the counter and poured it into the hot oil.

‘Pollination. But I don’t think they want it.’

‘So Hayley what do you like?’

‘Reading.’

He chuckled. ‘I mean what animal.’ He turned to face her. She had relapsed into quietness a thoughtful expression on her face. She was so beautiful and that was making his heart jack hammered. How could she be so cute?

‘Which kind of animal is it the marine, insects or mammals or generally.’

He chuckled, ‘let’s start with marine.’

‘Fish!’ she said brightly, ‘I envy them.’

His brow wrinkled in a puzzled frown ‘you envy fish?’ he turned back to the frying omelette.

‘Yes, to me they look so free out of trouble, and I so want to be like them to experience a world without hardship and worrying about the future.’

He glanced over his shoulder she looked sad to him. ‘Why do you work so hard?’

‘Because my parents are not rich I have to support them, I have to work to not burden them more.’

‘So since when have you been working?’

‘Since I was six I ran errands for people and had my first part time job when I was eleven.’

‘And are you ok with it?’

‘Of course not, sometimes I get tired of it all and think a lovely made noose will do it. but then I remember my parents see their smile and I forget that. Their love strengthens me and I’m happy. Even if I die a pauper I’ll be happy and content.’ She said with so much sincerity that frightened him and also made him respect her.

To have such thoughts at her age, to have to work so hard at her age… and to be happy with it was something he wasn’t sure he can do or bear. That’s why they say women are such absorbers.

‘What about the insect kingdom?’

‘Ants and beetles,’ she said at once.

‘Ants I understand but beetles?’

‘I just like the way they look, there are beautiful species too do you know?’

‘Okay what about the mammals?’

‘Dogs.’

He nodded.

‘Are you going somewhere?’

He looked at her with a c****d eyebrow.

She lifted her chin in the direction of the bags in the living room. ‘Your luggages are there. Are you leaving? Am I’m in your way?’

‘You aren’t. I’m not ready to leave yet.’

‘May I ask where you are going?’ she requested.

He flipped the omelette onto the other side to brown. ‘I’m going to live with my family.’

‘Why aren’t you living with them before? Did you fight? Family fights so that must have been what happened.’

‘Why do you like asking questions?’ he demanded facing her.

‘I’m just curious.’

‘You should be called a cat not an ant. The important thing is that we are getting back together.’

‘Ok, ok why must shout?’

‘I wasn’t shouting.’

‘Why do you like listening to songs from six years ago?’ she queried.

‘What?’

‘That song, Rihanna and Shakira can’t remember to forget you. Last time it was one of Eminem’s old songs.’

‘I like it, what about you? Your phone is packed full with Michael Jackson’s songs, Lagbaja and Fela’s songs.’ He turned off the stove, took two plates and set it on the counter before her.

‘You went through my phone? Why?’

‘I had to call your mum to tell her where you are so as not to worry and I checked through. Don’t worry; I didn’t go through your SMS.’

She scowled. ‘What did she say?’

‘She was really worried and was sceptical when I told her you are with me and I’m a friend. She was actually suspicious but she believed at last.’

‘Aren’t all mothers?’ she asked with a smile.

A shadow crossed his face, not all, especially not his mother. She would be glad he was finally gone and not worry.

‘I like the song that’s why I have them.’

‘What else do you like?’

‘I like books, the beach, balloons, caramel ice cream, the colour orange, green and red and cakes I’m extremely passionate about cakes and drawing.’ She told him.

He smiled. ‘No wonder you are thin, you work so much and then gobble up cakes. You were chubby when you were young but now thin.’

‘I don’t gobble up cakes.’ She defended.

‘Do you have a boyfriend?’ he asked.

‘No, why?’

Though he was asking the question to tease her part of him was glad she didn’t have any.

‘Get one now because by the time you are twenty you’ll be unattractive,’ or even more. ‘And look like fish bone.’

She burst into laughter at that. Her laugh was silvery and pleasant to the ears.

‘Why are you laughing? It’s not funny.’

‘It is,’ she said amidst laughter. ‘Not your words your expression was as grave as a judge’s.’ She imitated his expression and broke into another fit of laughter.

He smiled. ‘You are not offended.’

‘Why will I be? It’s the truth; I should take more rests so as not to end up like a fish bone.’

He placed two thick wedges on the plates before her. ‘Just look after yourself the more. You are a girl. Girls should worry about their appearance.’

She raised a brow.

‘Really.’ He dropped two forks on the counter top. ‘By the way what’s your relationship with Darryl?’ he opened the refrigerator and brought out a bowl of fruits. He set it on the counter.

‘I told you, he is a friend.’

Then why was he sounding like a husband whose wife was in agony? He set two glass tumblers and bottled water before them. He sounded very worried and frantic. ‘You never dated?’ she shook her head.

‘Why are you asking?’

‘Just curious, does he have a girlfriend?’

‘Yes.’

Darryl had sounded also doubtful when he called him, like he was a bad guy. He told him to not let anything happen to her and he got what he meant. Stay away from her and don’t touch her or else I will kill you. He had also said something, saying that the fact that he was a prince doesn’t mean nothing can touch him. So, Darryl knows. He didn’t expect that. He wasn’t as popular as dear Tan was and still is.

‘Eat up so you can take your medication.’ He told her and she picked up her fork and began to eat.

While she ate he watched her, he couldn’t stop himself no matter how he tried to, and his eyes kept wandering over to her, thinking how lovely she was, how thin, how pale. Stop it William, he cautioned himself. Stop it.

After she ate, he focused on peeling skin off banana’s, skinning orange and apples.

‘Wow, you know how to peel apples!’ she gasped.

He looked up a smile curving his mouth amused at her display of astonishment. ‘What’s special in peeling apples?’

‘I don’t know how too, I kept peeling the fruit off with it and it’s funny because I can peel the skin off yam perfectly. Can you teach me how too? I learn fast.’ She came to stand by his side, bending.

He chuckled. ‘Watch me,’ he told her.

‘How come you smell of lemons?’ she asked him.

‘Pardon?’

‘Your scent, it’s of lemon. Honey, vanilla and roses now lemon. Oh boy, you should be a female.’

‘It’s my soap and why can’t I use what females use?’

‘I guess I’ll start using aftershaves.’

He laughed, at her words and sincere expression. She laughed as well and took the knife from him inching closer and he smelled her scent. Mixture of things, spices, citrusy smell, and jasmine and above all the scent of woman she was. It clouded his brain befuddling it; he felt desire for her, to reach out and... No, he shook his head.

‘Sit down and eat the fruits so you can take your medications.’

‘Okay,’ she went back to her seat. ‘You are like an elder brother,’ she told him flashing a smile at him. ‘I always wanted an elder brother.’

He laughed. ‘Then eat up little sister.’