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We went inside and I followed him to the kitchen. A woman with long, dark hair was singing in a language I didn’t understand while pulling something out of the oven. I had no idea what it was, but it smelled amazing, and…spicy.
When she turned around, she was holding a deep stone pan containing some sort of beef covered in a sauce with vegetables all along the side. “Hope you gentlemen are hungry.”
“Starving,” Bennett replied. “Reesa, I wanted to introduce you to Colton Marzoni. He is Logan’s brother.”
She raised a brow and looked me over. “I see the resemblance. So, your mother was from Tabiq,” she said, placing the food in the center of the table.
“Yes, Madam President,” I replied. “But I never met her. I was raised by another family and didn’t even know who my father or family was until recently.” I wasn’t sure why I admitted all that, but I had a feeling there weren’t many secrets between her and the Hendersons. If I didn’t tell her, I’m sure they would.Hell, she might have already known.
“Please, call me Reesa. You are not here on official business. You’re our guest.”
“Thank you,” I smiled. “Is there anything I can do to help?”
“No. Everything is ready.”
“I’m surprised that you do your own cooking,” I said.
Reesa shrugged. “Some might find cooking a chore. I find it relaxing. After a stressful day in the office, and feeling as though I really have no control over anything, I come into the kitchen and release all my tension.”
Finn laughed. “You should’ve seen her letting out her frustration earlier when she was tenderizing the meat.”
Bennett chuckled and I just grinned. She might seem easy going, but she was still the president of Tabiq, and we had just met.
“Why don’t you gentlemen sit. And Colton, don’t be concerned. You are among friends here. Ask me whatever you want to ask, because I can see you have questions,” she said.
I nodded and sat down, but only once she was seated. It was weird. There was so much I wanted to know, but not one question came to mind. How could I be drawing a blank at a time like this? Maybe it was easier starting with someonenotfrom Tabiq like myself.
“Finn, you are obviously not native, so how did the two of you meet?” I asked.
“Now that is a unique and romantic story of its own. But let me start at the beginning. Logan Henderson was the one working desperately to not just train the hospital staffing, but to bring the equipment up to standard. He would travel back and forth from different parts of the world, just to come and help Tabiq. I’m sure you’re aware, he’s a very busy man, traveling the world performing surgery.”
“Yes, he’s mentioned that.”Don’t know what that has to do with you.
“When Reesa was elected, she was also under the gun to find someone to continue where Logan left off. Fate brought her to Ireland, and now I am the Chief of Staff,” Finn said. Then he turned to Reesa. “And also married to the most beautiful woman in the world.”
She chuckled. “He’s saying that because he loves my cooking. But it is true, fate did bring us together. Just like fate brought your siblings to Tabiq. If it hadn’t been for them, I shudder to think where my country would be right now.”
“You have worked very hard to change things yourself,” Bennett said.
“But if you and your men hadn’t taken down the corrupt government, then I never would’ve been allowed to run for president, never mind be elected.” She looked at me and said, “Your father came here with evil intentions and almost destroyed the beauty of Tabiq. When all hope was almost gone, your brothers showed up. I won’t lie. We did not trust them and there are still some who don’t. But many of us have witnessed all the good they have done. We have much work to continue, and healing is a very slow process. So many of our women have suffered unspeakable abuse. But I know that in time, if we continue working together, Tabiq will once again be a country based on family and on love.”
“I’m not sure if any of that answered your questions,” Bennett said.
“It confirms what you and Brice told me. That’s what I needed. But I also want to know how I can help. I might not have known my father, but I am a Henderson and I want to be a part of the solution.”
Not for James, but for the mother I never got to meet.
“There will be time for that. There is no reason you must make such decisions immediately. It’s more important to spend time with us. Learn the history, and understand our goals. Then you can decide in which way to help. Maybe you will want to live here full time like your brother Alex, or just come a couple of times a year to help like the others. Either is welcome. And whatever you choose, do what is best for you and your loved ones, because there is no quick fix. This is a long-term commitment,” Reesa said.
Reesa was right. To be effective in helping, I needed to understand what I had to offer. I didn’t see any dairy farms on the island, and living here full time wasn’t an option - Dad needed me.
And I need Annabella. Hopefully when I figure this all out, she’ll understand and still want me as much as I want her.
