fine with my request. He
finished up with his morning routine and got dressed before we headed downstairs.
I noticed as we crossed the lobby, hand in hand, that we were getting some
looks from another couple.
I smiled at them, but it wasn’t returned. I noticed some
look of disapproval before they looked away from us. I wasn’t used to getting
that look. It finally dawned on me why. I’d always been with Ethan, who was
black, but now I’m with Axel, who is not. I’d always heard of those looks from
Josie. Though she wasn’t fully Caucasian, there were times where she didn’t
look like she was mixed with black.
I realized that I should just brush it off. I remember Josie
telling me that it comes with the territory of dating interracially. So
shrugging my shoulders as we walked outside, I snuggled up closer to Axel, and
we continued to enjoy our day.
“Where are we?” I asked.
“Park De Montjuic. It has a beautiful botanical garden that
I think you’d enjoy,” he said as we began our adventure.
“I’ve never been to one before,” I said as we ventured
further in. It was such a happy place. There were kids running around with ice
creams and parents talking amongst each other in Spanish.
“Good, I’m glad this will be your first one.”
By the time we’d gotten to the garden, I agreed with him
when he said that he was glad this would be my first botanical garden. It was
set up in such a way, that you could discover a variety of different regions
throughout the world. Australia, California, Mediterranean, South Africa and
Chile were all just a few paces away.
I was in such awe at all of the native vegetation in each
region that I didn’t realize that it was getting darker by the time we were
done. Since we’d eaten breakfast at lunch time, I wasn’t hungry until now.
Asking Axel for the time, he read his watch.
“It’s almost six. What are you hungry for?” he asked as we
stood at the curb, waiting for another taxi.
“I’m kind of tired from the walk; let’s just order room
service,” I said as a taxi pulled up.
“Sounds good, plus tomorrow we’re going to France, we’ll
travel late morning early afternoon. This will give us time to sleep in,” he
said.
Chapter Five
P aris was just like in the movies; beautiful. Full
of lively people and extraordinary architecture. Just hours earlier, I’d heard
and gotten used to the sound of Spanish, and now, I was listening intently to
French. It was a lot different than Spanish, but it still had that distinctive
flow to it that I could grow to love.
“Jaida?” I heard Axel ask me suddenly.
“Yes?” I asked.
“Did you hear me?” he asked amused by my fascination with my
surroundings.
“I’m sorry, what did you say?” I asked.
“I was asking if you were hungry,” he repeated as we walked
up to the door of our building.
“Not really, but I could go for a snack.”
“I’m glad you said that. How about some fresh macaroons?” he
asked me.
“I have never triedthem before.”
“Jaida, you have not truly lived until you’ve had a real
French macaroon.”
“Well in that case, you have been dating a corpse,” I said
making him laugh before we walked up to the receptionist.
“Bonjour, et bienvenue à Hôtel Le Meurice Paris. Welcome to
our grand hotel! Do you have a reservation?”
Axel responded in French, surprising the beautiful
receptionist, as she smiled bright with shock. I didn’t understand what they
were saying, but I knew that she was complimenting him on his speech. He
thanked her, and took the keys before turning to lead me towards our room.
Or should I say castle. It was like I stepped out of today
and went straight back into the Victorian ages. The room was accented with rich
shades of red-violets and golds. The furniture was pristine and tinted silver.
The room was set up different from the other room that we’d just left. Whereas
that suite had its own living area and bedroom, this hotel had everything on
Nikita Storm, Bessie Hucow, Mystique Vixen