81. On to see daddy.
1127 Words
Stella, Drake, and Jake went with Baraka back to the small village.
It was his nephew that passed away.
Stella offered deep condolences. His sister was alive, but not well.
Drake felt bad about the whole situation there.
Stella hugged Baraka. "I'm so sorry, I wish I could have helped him."
He nodded. " People in the US do not know the problems here, they take things for granite." He walked away.
Drake hugged Stella and took her to the clinic to talk to Dr.Slack.
Dr. Slack had left for the US, he had to get back to his own practice.
Being in Africa was not his full time job, yet. He was planning on selling his practice and coming back, full time.
Jake was looking for Stella, he wasn't done with her. She was very interesting to him.
He learned she was flying to Nepal before she made the long trek home. Drake was not accompanying her.
He bought a ticket to Nepal and headed there to be there when she arrived. He would have her all to himself.
Stella had planned to see Teddy since she was on this side of the world. She didn't even think of seeing her parents in Egypt.
Drake had to go home, he had to talk to Olivia and then get back to work. Sam was stressing out running the company by himself.
Cash decided he would fly to India to meet Stella, surprise her.
He flew to the home in India to prepare it for her arrival and wait for her there.
Drake got to the airport early in the morning. He was feeling anxiety about Stella traveling to Nepal all alone, he asked Baraka if he wanted a job as Stella's companion while she was traveling abroad.
After the loss of his nephew, shortly followed by his sister he agreed.
Stella now had a good friend to go with her, look after her.
Drake felt comfortable with her going to see Teddy. She didn't know that Cash had made arrangements to meet her in India.
Drake got on his plane and took out his computer. He was working on a new client, this one was very big, the biggest they had every had. Mr. Abott recommended the Palmer insurance group to his good friend, Gus Sweetwater at Sweetwater tires.
They were the biggest international tire supplier in the world.
He wanted this contract very badly. He would need to be available to Mr. Sweetwater at any hour.
Stella and Baraka flew off to Kathmandu. They slept most of the way. Stella was so excited to see Teddy again.
When they landed, they looked for their driver.
A man with a cap on his head was holding up a sign. Calloway.
Stella saw him and quickly made her way to the sign, not seeing who was holding it.
It was Jacob Harris. He grinned. "Looks like you are going my way Calloway."
" Well, that's strange, did Drake put you up to this?" She asked.
" Nope, I figured it all out by myself, I believe we need time alone, to get to know eachother better, you are very beautiful Mrs.Calloway." He said.
Baraka was catching up to Stella after collecting their bags.
" What is the fake doctor doing here, did you invite him? Mr. Calloway will not like it?" he said sternly.
" Not me, he used his own fine brain to collide with us here." She laughed.
Jake took some of those bags.
" Your car awaits." He motioned for them to follow him.
There was a rental with a driver waiting for them.
Drake opened the back door for Stella, she entered.
Baraka went to the other side and scooted in next to her, to the consternation of Jake who planned to sit in the back and cozy up with the sweet Stella.
Baraka said,"You sit up front, or shot gun as you call it in the west."
Stella smiled. " Jake, you don't mind do you?"
He saw her big smile he melted.
" No Calloway, not at all."
They rode into the small city where Teddy would be found playing football with the boys that his wife, Miriam had adopted as her own.
Stella jumped out of the car before it even stopped.
She limped quickly to the play field seeing Teddy.
" Daddy!" She yelled.
He saw her and dropped the ball.
He ran to her and picked her up, spinning her around. Her skirt twirled as she spun.
He looked younger, he was clean shaven and tan.
She kissed him. " I missed you so very much." Her eyes were full of tears.
" Me too kid, how are you? You look beautiful, skinny but so very pretty my girl." He looked her up and down.
She touched his cheek. "Are you still deliriously happy here?"
He nodded. " Let's go to the house, Miriam is working on school backpacks for her boys."
She nodded, then turned to Baraka and Jacob.
" Come, follow me and daddy." She said as she held onto Teddy's arm.
She did not want to let him go.
He let her go long enough to shake hands with Baraka and Jacob.
He introduced himself as Stella's daddy.
Jacob liked Teddy immediately.
They made their way to the house. Miriam saw Stella and ran to her, hugging her.
" How is my step daughter doing?" She asked her.
" You're too skinny child." She said as she pinched her side.
" Mother, I'm ticklish." She scooted to the side and bumped into Jake.
He held her and pulled her in close to his side. She smelled good, floral scents filled his nose.
He was immediately intoxicated by her.
She rubbed his arm, then moved away, embarrassed.
" Who is this young man, another suitor?" Miriam asked with her eyes aglow.
" Oh, no just a new friend, we are not romantically involved." She made that quite clear.
Miriam nodded, though she didn't believe it.
Stella walked into the kitchen looking for a bite to eat.
Miriam said," Sit all of you, I bet you are famished."
She made them a rice and chicken curry dish.
Stella gave her chicken to Baraka.
They were all fairly tired after their trip so Miriam showed them to a small room with three cots.
" Thank you mom." Stella said as she chose a cot on the end, Baraka lay his bag next to her, leaving Jake the one farthest away from his charge.
Jake asked Stella if she wanted to go for a walk before bed.
She looked at him, seeing the heat in his eyes said,"Thank you, I'm exhausted, maybe we can all go tomorrow?"
He nodded, disappointed.
- Writer
