Black Keys (The Colorblind Trilogy #1) - Rose B. Mashal Page 0,34
sitting on the side of the bed, facing me with his body, but his gaze was fixed on the window.
We stayed like that for a while, until my tears dried and my sobs were gone. The prince excused himself and then went to the bathroom, coming out in just a few moments with slightly damp hair before heading to the walk-in closet. He stayed there for another few minutes then came back, still dressed the same. It was the second time he’d done that, and I didn’t get it.
What was he doing in there?
I sighed, deciding not to think much of it.
Just as the prince walked out of the closet, we heard a knock on the door. He replied with a word in Arabic before Mona came in and started telling him something. They spoke back and forth for a minute, and it was really disturbing that I didn’t get what they were saying, especially since the prince’s tone sounded like frustration.
Finally Mona left the room, closing the door behind her, and I watched as the prince ran his hand through his hair, as he stared at the door before rubbing his temple and then turning around to face me.
“The third day at noon, family members are supposed to visit the newlyweds. I’ve already told Mona to inform them that you were sick and won’t be able to meet them, but…my grandmother is already here and–I can’t just send her back,” he huffed. “Would you, please, let me have her in?” he asked.
His mother’s mother?
She could be as mean as her daughter, or maybe worse.
But, his mother had already come in here without them asking me if I agreed, so what was the big deal now?
“What’s the big deal?”
It seemed like I had offended the prince again, because that was how he looked–offended. I didn’t get it; I hadn’t said anything offensive!
“Uh, she’s in a wheelchair, and came all the way from the other half of the palace, the fifth floor,” he said in a low voice, somehow pleading.
Oh!
Hello, garbage feeling! It seems like you enjoy my company today.
“No, that’s not what I meant,” I started. “I meant that yesterday your mom just came in here, without anyone asking me if I was okay with it or not,” I explained, even though I knew now that he didn’t want her to go back only because of her huge effort to visit with us.
“Oh! I see.” He seemed a bit relieved. “It’s tradition for the mothers to come here yesterday, and the rest of the families today. They would’ve still come, but I didn’t want you going through anything that might bother you, especially while you aren’t feeling well…I just don’t want you to have to deal with pretending along with a troubled stomach, so I’m asking if you’d forgive me for allowing my grandmother in here,” he explained.
“Of course, let her in,” I told him, getting out of bed and adjusting my clothes.
“Are you sure?”
“Yes, I’m fine,” I assured him.
“Thank you.” The relieved smile found his lips and rested there.
Mona arrived, after the prince called her name, and helped me with my hair then brought all of the jewelry that was gifted to me on the night of the wedding before me, asking me to choose some. When I asked, she said I had to wear at least half of it or the Queen Mother would think I didn’t like it. I didn’t argue and just went with it.
When I was finished putting on too much jewelry, Mona left, and I stood near the set of elegant armchairs and couch waiting for our visitor to come in. A noise caught my attention and I glanced back to see that the bed was disappearing behind a moving wall that managed to hide all of the section of the room that held the bed, nightstands, window and the sunroom inside it, making it seem like a completely different room, starting with the round table that used to be in the middle of the room.
I gave the prince, who was standing near me with his hand on another hidden button, a questioning look. He only shrugged in response.
I’d learned that when Mona was expected, she only knocked once before she let herself in; but other times, she waited for the prince or myself to give her permission before she stepped into the room. Since she was expected this time, she knocked and opened the door before wheeling our visitor in.