The following morning, Reno left his lakefront condo on South Shore Drive and headed to the Near West Side UIC campus. He was determined to help Zuri in every way possible. Strolling the campus amongst bright-eyed and hopeful college students, Reno noticed the area had changed quite a bit since he graduated ten years ago. Reno reveled at the role he played in part of that development, admiring the new Chemical Engineering Building he designed.
Utilizing his resources, Reno spoke with the Dean of the International Relations Department and informed her that Zuri Okusanya had extenuating circumstances, without disclosing her personal business. He asked if she would be allowed to take her finals via satellite. Also, Reno implored that her records be sealed to everyone, including her family and anyone claiming to be her fiancé. Thankfully, because of who Reno was and his lineage, along with the contributions and various scholarships he provided to architectural students––– and now, international relations students, the Dean obliged.
Reno couldn’t wait to share the news with Zuri, but first, he had to check-in with Skyler. He dialed the number to the shelter.
“Second Chance at Life Women’s Shelter, Skyler speaking. How may I be of service to you?”
“Someone sounds chipper this morning,” Reno teased, walking across campus to his car.
Skyler had always been full of personality, but he hoped the extra bubbliness didn’t have anything to do with Kaleb. As much as Reno wanted to know, he wouldn’t dare ask––– at least not Skyler.
“I’m going to contact the window people again and see how fast they can come out.”
“I just got off the phone with them,” Skyler countered. “Someone will be out later today to assess the damage. They already have the window measurements and specialty glass on file from the initial installment.”
Reno found himself smiling as he slid into the driver’s seat. Good workers were plentiful, but exceptional ones were hard to come by, and he’d found a jewel in Skyler.
“Thanks for following up.”
“No problem,” Skyler replied in that perky tone she’d been exuding ever since she answered the phone. “How’s Zuri?”
“I was just about to call her. I haven’t spoken with Zuri this morning, but she seemed alright last night,” Reno said, pulling the seatbelt across his shoulder and fastening the buckle.
“Let me know if she needs anything. I’ll swing by after I leave here.”
“Will do,” he replied, pressing a button on the compartment above the rearview mirror and retrieved his sunglasses. “How are the rest of the women? Did they have a pleasant night? I know it’s weird staying in an unfamiliar place, no matter how nice it may be.”
“Overall, the ladies are fine,” Skyler said with hesitation. “Some are on edge about the way everything went down yesterday. They’re concerned about their jobs and want to know when they’d be able to return to the shelter.”
“I’ll answer all of their questions when I head out there later today,” he replied. “Call me if you need anything. Talk to you later.”
“Will do,” Skyler replied, ending the call.
Reno started the car and adjusted the air conditioning. He put in a call to Zuri.
“Hello,” she answered, sounding unsure.
“It’s Reno––– Mariano,” he corrected because she wasn’t accustomed to hearing the nickname that his boys gave him when they first met at Macro. They said, he looked to smooth to be called Mariano, so he’d been Reno ever since. “I wanted to let you know I’m heading your way. Did you need anything before I get there?”
“That is really nice of you, but no, I am fine.”
The shakiness in her voice had subsided.
“I’ll see you in about thirty minutes,” he replied, disconnecting the call.
The journey from the near west side to the far south side was an uneventful one since he was traveling between the morning and afternoon rush. He took in the familiar sights and enjoyed the calmness up until the moment he pulled along the curb in front of the apartments.
Parking, he left the car running and opened up a web browser. He typed Godfrey Okusanya in the search engine and began reading about the man who’d brought significant positive change in the Tanzanian government, who the people praised and respected. Then he paged down to the subtitle, Early Life, and learned that Godfrey was a cattle farmer in Musa, a Ward of 66 rural district where arranged marriages were both common and illegal.
“Whoa,” Reno blurted out loud.
The phone rang, closing out the current screen he’d been reading. Apt203 danced across the top of the display. The burner phone assigned to Zuri’s unit.
“Hey,” Reno answered, turning off the car. “I’ll be right up.”
He moved across the quad with stealth. No one was out; not even a bird chirping or a stray cat. By the time he made it to the second landing, Zuri had opened the door wearing a pair of shorts and an oversized t-shirt that exposed one shoulder.
“Why were you sitting in the car so long?” she demanded. “I saw you park about ten minutes ago.”
“I was doing some research on your father,” Reno admitted, walking to the picture window and glancing toward his vehicle. “I needed to know what we were up against.”
“Godfrey Okusanya is amazing on Wikipedia,” Zuri murmured. “But the man behind the name is another story best left untold.”
An awkward silence filled the room. That one sentence said enough, and Reno wouldn’t pressure Zuri to explain further.
“You hungry? I made beef stew, and I am boiling water for the ugali.”
“I––– nah, I have to–––”
Zuri approached Reno and grasped his hand. She led him into the kitchen. “You would not let me cook for you last night, but you will have lunch with me. I insist.”
“Well, since I don’t have a choice.” He grinned, pulling out a barstool. “I’ve never had ugali before.” He inhaled a pleasant aroma.
“It is a Tanzanian specialty. You will love it.”
She washed her hands, then took a bag of white cornmeal from the cabinet and grabbed a fist full. Zuri held her hand over the boiling water and let the grainy substance fall through her delicate fingers into the pot as she slowly stirred.
“My Baba used to mean everything to me, even though I did not see him much. He was a cattle farmer and spent most of his time on the ranch. My Mama was a circular migration worker. I saw her even less, but when I did see her, we had such an amazing time.”
“Why’s that?” Reno asked, happy that she was opening up on her own and sharing personal details about her life and family.
“My Mama came to the States to work for six months at a time. I am not sure why because her family was wealthy. Baba made her so he could manipulate me in her absence, but I did not know that at the time,” Zuri admitted. “Mama sent half of her paycheck back to the home community every time she got paid to help support the family. Four hundred and fifty dollars every two weeks may not seem like a lot here, but it was life-changing for the tribe back home. She lived here in Chicago with another migrant family,” Zuri explained as she continuously stirred the contents in the pot and kept her focus on the contents. “That is how I learned about UIC. Mama worked as a custodian. She boasted about how beautiful the campus was and how she prayed, I would someday be able to attend a university like that.”
“Your mother’s wish came true.” Reno smiled, resting his elbows on the counter.
“They did,” she whispered, tossing her head back and sniffling. “But at what cost?”
He frowned, searching her face for understanding.
“Mama knew I did not want to get married. Not like that. I wanted free will to fall in love and choose my forever mate,” she said, pursing her lips. “Long ago, when I was just eleven, I overheard my parents arguing during one of Mama’s visits home. Baba had already received large dowries from prospective suitors for me. I cried and cried. I had just completed my seventh year of primary school and could test to go to the secondary level––– which is equivalent to high school here in the States,” Zuri clarified, scraping the sides of the pot and removing it from the heat. “Baba tried to trick me into failing my test by drawing a line through the circle instead of darkening the whole circle with my pencil when I answer the questions. That way, it would read invalid, and I would not qualify to the next level of education, but Mama told me to mark the answers the way I had always done, and she would protect me. I passed my exams with a perfect score.”
Reno listened in awe.
“When I finished testing, a lady I had never seen before ushered me and ten other girls into the back of a wagon and hauled us off to a special children center. She promised no harm would come to us and that she was only there to help girls further their education. I did not see my parents for three years. I thought Mama had abandoned me and did not keep her word.” Zuri’s eyes pooled, and tears swam down her cheeks. “It was not until we were reunited that I learned she had sent me away for my protection. And in return, Baba treated her worse than a lady of the night.”
“Don’t cry.” Reno vacated the bar stool and yanked a paper towel from its holder. He rushed to her side and tenderly dabbed Zuri’s eyes.
She glanced up at him, her fingertips brushing against Reno’s wrist, sending tingling sensations up his arm. Zuri placed a hand over his, slowly wrapping her fingers around the towel. “Thank you.”
Reno nodded and smiled, hoping the kind gesture offered Zuri comfort. He gazed in silence, taking in her vulnerability, understanding that what she shared wasn’t easy and feeling honored that she trusted him with such information.
Balling the paper towel in her fist, Zuri let out a deep sigh before she continued. “There was a bounty on my head because Baba accepted monies and had not delivered me to the Aku family.” She paused, biting her bottom lip. “He found me right before I took the Advanced Certificate exam. That was the final test to see if I qualified to attend college. But it did not matter.” A smile split her face. “My teacher, Mama Winnie, had me take a mock exam three weeks prior, and I aced it. She submitted that as my final. I did not know at the time that Mama Winnie had been secretly in touch with my Mama. She helped her apply for a student visa for me to enter the States and attend UIC. I was never supposed to return to the family home.”
“Your mom was a warrior.”
“My real-life superhero,” Zuri added, moving around Reno, tossing the used paper towel in the trash, then washing her hands. She transferred the ugali into a large serving bowl, re-wet her hands with water, then scooped sizeable amounts and rolled the cornmeal mush into several balls. She spooned beef stew into ceramic bowls and placed them on the center of a plate, then sat the ugali on the side with a tablespoon. “Mama was scheduled to come back to Chicago. Baba usually took her to the airport, but he wanted to find the Aku family as soon as possible. He was too paranoid about leaving me alone, so he shackled me to a tree. She begged for one last moment to speak with me, and Baba allowed it.” Zuri shrugged, and a world of hurt was in that gesture. “Maybe he figured nothing could go wrong since he had me chained like an animal. Soon as he was out of earshot, Mama kissed my forehead and whispered, “Do not worry. Mama Winnie’s coming for you. I may never see you again, but at least I know you will be alive and safe.”
Reno’s heart thumped, but she signaled for him to lift both plates and carry them to the table. He pulled out a chair for her to sit.
Appearing lost, Zuri stood frozen, not uttering a sound. Reno didn’t know what to say or if he should say anything at all. She’d divulged a part of her past to him that he assumed no one else knew existed, other than Godfrey. He was having a hard time digesting what he just heard, so Zuri had to be struggling as well.
Blinking as she inhaled a large intake of air, Zuri muttered, “This feels like déjà vu––– Baba trying to sabotage my graduation. I do not have that invisible safety net protecting me anymore. I miss my Mama,” Zuri said, lowering into the seat.
“History will not repeat itself.” Reno caressed her damp cheek; his heartstrings were being tugged to the max. “You will graduate with your class. I promise.”
Zuri turned her face into his hand, closed her eyes, and kissed his palm. “When you say it, I believe it––– but I do not know how that is possible.”
Reno squatted at her side until they were eye level. “Because I spoke with the Dean of International Relations this morning. She emailed your professors, instructing them to allow you to take your finals via satellite. I have the verified emails and exam schedule right here.” He patted his breast pocket.
“Whaaat?” Zuri’s eyes glistened as she swung her legs from underneath the table and pulled Reno into a tight embrace, making him lose his balance. He fell backward, and she landed on top of him. “I’m sooooo sorry.”
The savory scent of Zuri’s breath and the full pressure of her soft body gave Reno intense pleasure, even if it only lasted for a second.
Zuri quickly rolled over and knelt beside him. “Are you okay?”
“Yes.” He simpered, pushing up on his elbows, gazing at the beautiful woman who was off-limits.
She stood, then extended her hand. “Seems like one of us is always on the ground.”
Reno was enjoying the view from the floor as he admired her heavenliness, although the close proximity had his mind fuddled. He needed clarity before he did something stupid.
“I’m good,” he said, getting to his feet. Reno pulled the document from his pocket and handed the schedule to Zuri.
“Thanks for this.” She lifted the folded paper to her lips and kissed it. “I do not know how I will ever repay you.”
“Lunch is all the payment I need.”
He could think of several other ways if the circumstances were different.