Page 50 of Solomon’s Temple

“On the terrace is fine.”

She gave a curt nod, then walked away to place my food outside on the terrace.

“Would you like the music or no music?” Lirah asked.

“The music is good. Thank you.”

“No problem. Enjoy your meal.” She and the flower lady went into the adjoining bathroom while the violinist continued to serenade me.

I smiled, feeling a feeling that felt foreign to me: joy.

I swung my legs over the bed and went outside to eat. I wanted to call Solomon, but I didn’t want to bother him while he prepared himself for this day.

Stepping out on the terrace, the sun, scenery, and ocean waves greeted me.

I sat down, lifted the telegram from the tray, and read it aloud.

“My Temple. My Beauty. I hope you woke up ready to step into your new life as my wife. You don’t know how grateful I am that you agreed to walk into this with me. I know it’s only been a short time, but I feel like I’ve known you forever. You are my forever. Get even more beautiful for me, and I’ll meet you at the altar in that white dress. Solomon.”

I bit my bottom lip to hide my smile.

For what?

I had no clue.

I made haste with eating my food and fruit, then went inside to the bathroom to the smell of something vanilla and lavender. Candles were lit around the bathroom with rose petals on the floor and inside the clawfoot tub.

I spent almost two hours in that tub. Whatever they put inside of it had my skin feeling as soft as a newborn baby’s.

When I finally made it downstairs to the great room, I stopped in my tracks, seeing a rack of white dresses and the glam team standing by, waiting for me.

The music and the ambiance took my breath away.

An older woman stepped toward me with a smile on her face. “Miss Newman. I’m Dorcia Alexander, your beautician and head of your glam team. If you’d follow me, we can get started on all this lovely hair of yours.”

I felt myself getting overwhelmed and needed a minute.

“C-can you give me one minute?” I asked as I backed away and hurried down the hall to the bathroom. Once inside, I walked over to the sink and splashed water on my face.

My eyes caught my reflection in the mirror, and I closed my eyes tightly to reel in my emotions. This was a lot to take in.

I was about to become someone’s wife.

Ma Lula would be so disappointed that I’d done this without her, but I promised myself that as soon as we touched down on U.S. soil, I would have her help me plan the actual wedding.

“You got this, Temp. You’re making the right choice.” I coached myself. Then I looked up, feeling emotional, and did something I hadn’t done in a while.

“God, I know we haven’t talked in a minute, but I pray that You open Your ears to my prayer. I know that You had to send this man to me. I know this is Your way of saving me from myself. For so long, I blocked out any thought of love and marriage because I never had that for thirteen years of my life. I had no one who cared enough to teach me what love truly meant.

“Those nights when I’d hide in the closet from my evil foster sisters and careless foster mother, praying that You’d deliver me from them, finally came true when You sent me Ma Lula. But the damage had already been done. I just . . . If this is the man You deem as my husband, then I ask that You guide and lead us to a healthy, loving, everlasting life together. Help me to believe in real love again.”

I exhaled the tension in my chest, dried my face, then headed back down the hall with a new confidence.

When I re-entered, Dorcia still stood at the entrance with her arms crossed in front of her as her smile returned.

“Ready?” she asked.

I gave her a curt nod. “Ready.” I followed her over to the hair station and she asked me how I wanted my hair. I typically didn’t allow non-melanin people to touch my hair, but since this was spur of the moment, I would allow it.