Staring at my lovely lavenders, her echoing voice disrupt my thoughts. "Mother!" she screeched as she ran to me holding a frame. She's dresses in red Givenchy , one-sleeve bluffed long gown with a black leather sandal her Father bought for her last year Christmas-it's not like I don't buy her gift. Of course I do. I bought for her Pajamas, Gowns, Hair ornaments and even shoes when I go on trips. She left her black, long-for-her-age hair unpacked which made it easy for the wind to blow it as she run towards me. "Mother" she said again panting. "Kate, why are you running?" I asked her as I sit her down on one of the long, concrete, marble designed chairs in the garden opposite my lovely and favorite home grown flowers-lavender. Lavender is a flower which signifies the first day you met someone. It reminds me of how I met my husband, the pharaoh of this land, Egypt. "Oh, what an awe-inspiring odyssey" I thought to myself as I let out a smile to Kate who was looking at the frame she held in her little hands. "What have you got there?" I asked as I collect the frame from her. "It's a painting I made myself. Our teacher in school asked us to draw the most important thing to us. Salle drew the white horse her elder brother gave her for the birthday, Iqmat and Iqmon drew their Versace dress, Rahman drew himself sitting on the throne and wearing a crown. Zainab is obsessed with herself so she drew herself as the most important thing. "Yes, I' m not surprised at all. That girl definitely love herself more than anything in the world" I replied. "I drew my family-me, father and mother. You are the most important to me in the world" Kate said as she hug me and rest her head on my bust. "I love you too, my little angel and I'm sure you know your father does to." I said as I gave her a peck on her forehead and she nodded in affirmation to what I said. With Kate enjoying the moment, I looked at the painting with happiness. She drew her father to be the tallest and at the right hand side, painted him black with golden stripes to signify his cloth and drew a triangle on his head to signify crown, I guess as I smiled. She also drew a thin line under his jaw to represent the fake moustache Pharaoh's wear. I was in the middle. She drew me slim, some noodle like pencil work on my head to show that I'm a female, black gown on my body and some design of hers' on my feet to show that I'm putting on heels. "What a nice antonished painting by my daughter" I thought to myself. "I've been looking for you sine. I've checked all rooms before the guards told me you are here in the royal garden' Kate said. Sometimes I forget how big the palace that I don't have a specific place I go to relax- I make use of every room. "I'm sorry dear" I said as I gave her another peck on her forehead.
"Mother, I have a question for you" she asked sharply as she adjusted her sitting position to upright resting her back on the chair. Kate has both English and Egyptian accent, which she hasn't been able to use well. She just enunciate any accent that comes to her mouth but mostly use the English accent when she wants to ask something or a favor.
"Question…. Ok, go on, ask" I said.
"Mother, can you please tell me how you and father met and got married?" she asked as she place her two palms together making them face each other like the Indian men greet.
I was surprised by the question she asked like that would literally be the last thing Kate would ask. "Why did you ask?" I asked Kate as I raised my brows.
"I asked because we've been told in school how different prince got married to their slave and servants and you...." She paused and continue "you happen to be in that position as I've overheard people talk about it" she said softly, rubbing her hands together and face down.
"Well, it's not like it's a secret, just an open one. It's not like no one doesn't know your history Heather" my subconscious told me metaphorically.
I wasn't baffled at the question, just wasn't expecting it from her...at least not yet. She's barely five years old. Looks like my little angel is becoming mature.
"It's fine if you don't want to talk about it mother, I'm sorry I brought it up. I was just curious to know the real story. I've been hearing from different people different side of stories and I know the genuine story can only come from you, Mother and Father of course but he'll be busy attending to meetings and case of the country." She said with soberness.
Her apology brought me back to life as I was drown in my thoughts.
"Did she just use reversed psychology on me? No, she didn't. She's just too young to know that. She was just being sincere. She thought she had over step her boundary. But come to think of it, she has the right to know…she has the right to know the history of her mother, how she got to Egypt, how she became Nasir's housekeeper, how she got stuck with him and how she became the Queen of Egypt" my subconscious again, told me metaphorically.
"No, it's okay. You didn't say anything wrong. I will tell you" I finally said something after umpteenth minutes of drooling in thoughts.
I started "Well, it all started five years ago. I was…"
"It's almost dinner time my queen" a female servant dressed in grey kilt came to announce to us in the garden.
At that point, I found an escape tunnel because I wasn't ready to answer that question, I wasn't ready to tell my story. Yeah I must admit, it was a shock to me.
"Kate, you heard the maid. It's almost dinner and we need to get ready. We must not keep your father waiting." I said as I helped her down the long cemented chair. She put up a sad face as she walked dragging her feet." Someone has got a mood swing" I thought.
"Kate" I called the sad pony. She paused and looked back with a wrong and 'almost crying' face. I fasten my pace and walk closer to her and carry her. "After dinner, I will tell you the story without leaving anything behind. Let's eat first" I tell her as I dabbed her pointy nose.
"Promise?" she said softly stretching out her pinkie finger to me
"Promise" I replied stretching out my pinkie finger to meet hers and we crossed it against each other's.
Immediately after hearing this, the face of my little, brown skin, dark well-arched eyebrows, jet black eyes, gloss lips and an acute nose angel turned from a sad pony to a revived unicorn. It turned beautiful. She gave me a hug and rest her head on my shoulders.
Kate is a simple girl and an obedient one. One thing about her is that when she ask for something from you and you promise to give her immediately or give her a stipulated time or day, she's fine with it. But if you should breach your promise, she can be…no, will be an annoying hell girl. She got that from me because I hate someone not keeping to his or her words. I thought and smiled as we entered the palace discussing what to wear to dinner.