The Humbled Prince

Humbling Confessions Part One

The following morning Tiana walked with her mother and father towards the church when she spotted Naveen in a crème dress shirt and brown trousers holding his jacket and hat.

"Mmm. God didn't just give us humidity this morning, babycakes. Looks like He blessed us with this handsome fellow," Eudora hinted to her daughter.

Tiana felt a little bashful and was thankful for the hat she wore to distract her from smiling. As soon as she recovered her father had already waked over to him.

"How do you do, son?" James extended his hand to Naveen who accepted it. "I'm Pastor James Harris and welcome to the house of God."

"I'm well thank you. The name's Naveen."

James stepped aside to introduce his family. "This is my wife and daughter, Eudora and Tiana Harris."

"Nice to meet you, Eudora. I'm Naveen," he extended his hand.

Eudora gently shook it. "Hello Naveen."

Then Naveen looked over at Tiana, who is wearing a conservative peach coloured dress and matching crochet. She looked very pretty. "And Tiana...thank you for the invitation," he said to her.

James raised his brows at his daughter. "You know Naveen?"

"Yes, daddy," Tiana admitted. "We met at Duke's diner."

"So you must be the huge tipper!" Eudora said, even more intrigued in the young man.

James cleared his throat. "Excuse me but I will see you all inside," he started towards the church.

"You can come sit with us, Naveen," Eudora offered, locking an arm with him and Tiana. "Are you from here?"

"No, I'm actually from a country call Maldonia..." he answered, already knowing that he got the mother's approval.

They all walked in the church and found some available pews to sit at near another family.

"Good morning, Sister Eudora!" greeted a middle aged woman. "How do you do on this lovely morning?" she looked over at Naveen.

"Excuse me..." Eudora smiled at the two before walking over to speak with the woman.

Naveen scooted closer to Tiana. "So this is your church?"

"Yes," she answered and noticed him inching closer. "What are you doing?" she asked, frowning.

"I'm picking up these small books!" Naveen got two and handed her one.

"This is a book of songs the choir and other members sing. Do you recognize any?"

"Not that I know of," Naveen said, flipping through the pages. "My family isn't big on religion. As a matter of fact where I come from we celebrate many religions or none at all. It's up to our choosing. We respect them all."

"Really now?" Eudora cut in their conversation. "Well my husband will certainly change ya mind I guarantee it!"

"Mama..." Tiana began, knowing where this was headed.

"Good morning everyone on the lovely morning the lord blessed us with!" James said onto the microphone. He heard some for the members agreeing with an amen or yes.

"When I woke up this morning the devil tried to get in my mind, but I didn't let him because you know why? Jesus's spirit was by my side!"

Naveen heard everyone clapping and cheering.

"Yeeesss!" James began singing. "Jesus! Mmm! My mama use to sing this to meeee..."

Jesus loves me! This I know...
For the Bible tells me so...

Suddenly the choir and church members began singing along. Including Tiana.

The song sounded beautiful, but it was boring in his honest opinion. That quickly changed when the organ and choir started singing it in a quicker pace followed by hand claps from the everyone else.

"Achidonza!" Naveen exclaimed, feeling the intense energy from the room.

He clapped along and smiled down at Tiana who could help but to laugh at his enthuse.

"Oh yes He does!" Naveen sang while clapping.

Both Eudora and Tiana glanced at each other, smiling and continued on.

James smiled himself and finished, "For the bible tells me sooo..."

()()()()

"I take it that you enjoyed this morning's service?" Tiana smiled.

Naveen nodded. "It was a spiritual experience for me. The music really got to me!"

Tiana laughed. "I saw."

"Hello Naveen," James approached the two "Did you enjo'y my service?"

"Just about every moment of it, James...Pastor. But one thing confused me," the prince admitted.

"Oh?" James raised a brow. "And that is?"

"The donation portion. I didn't exactly know the minimum or maximum so I donated five hundred dollars—

"Five hundred dollars?" Both Tiana and James exclaimed.

Naveen took it as them being insulted and apologized. "I can donate five grand, but of course I would have to give it to you in a check—

"Oh no son!" James laughed. "You can donate as much a penny or nothing at all. But I will say that the church greatly appreciates your generosity."

Naveen nodded.

James couldn't deny how he felt for the young man. There was some goodness he saw in him. 'He could be good for my daughter...'

Tiana saw the look her father was giving Naveen and could tell that approve of him. Which was a relief because she liked him, too.

"Well Tiana I'll leave you and your friend to yourselves. I'm sure you have plans," he extended his hand to the prince. "It was nice meeting you, son."

Naveen accepted the handshake. "Same here Pastor—

"Call me James," he said. "I guess it's time for me to look for your mother." He gave Tiana a kiss on the forehead before leaving the two.

Naveen sighed. "That went better than I thought."

Tiana laughed. "He is usually very difficult to any man who wants to talk to me. Of course my mother is the opposite. Always trying to hook me up with a man. That is until she learns that he either fathered five children or just ended a marriage due to adultery!"

"Interesting," Naveen smiled.

Tiana realized what she just said and mentally kicked herself.

"Would you like to go out for lunch?" he asked.

"There's not many places who will serve people like us," Tiana said.

"Why is that...of wait! Nevermind. I've read about the segregation in this country."

"Not every business is that way!" she defended. "But more than enough doesn't want to take the risk."

"That's unfortunate."

"Why don't we invite Naveen over for dinner!" Eudora suggested, walking over to them.

"We were thinking lunch," Tiana then raised a brow at her mother. "Daddy was looking for you."

"I know. Come on let's ride back with Mrs. Ellis!" Eudora waved at her neighbor. "Once we're done with lunch we can get started with preparing dinner."

()()()()

"Mm! These Grillades and Grits are delicious, babycakes!" Eudora complimented and saw Naveen stuffing his face. "Need a forth plate there, Naveen?"

Naveen swallowed his meal and exhaled "Oh no...three plates are enough."

"You know that my daughter LOVES to cook! She can scrape up anything and turn it into a culinary masterpiece!"

"So I've heard!" Naveen looked up at Tiana was taking their plates from the table. "I can help out."

"Well, since you asked," she handed him the plates.

Eudora chucked while thinking, 'He could be good for my daughter...'

"Where would you like for me to put these...dishes in?" Naveen asked.

"The soapy sink!" she pointed over to a bubbling sink. "You can get started if you want. I'll finish the rest."

Naveen put the dishes in the sink a title too hard causing the water to splash on his shirt.

Tiana turned her head to see the prince in complete shock. "Are you okay"

"Yes, I got it!" he nervously laughed.

She could clearly see that he was confused on what to do so she went by his side to assist him. "Here's a towel to wash and another for drying. I'll be right back."

Naveen watched as Tiana left the kitchen before returning to the messy dishes. Intimidation came upon him as he picked up a wet dish watching the soap suds dripping into the bubbly water.

Tiana walked into the diningroom to find Eudora grinning at her like a cat. She frowned. "What is it mama?"

"Naveen seems like husband material," she said.

"I just met him!" Tiana said, feeling her cheeks warm in embarrassment. "And can you not talk like this? He could hear us."

"You need to get back into that kitchen and help him wash those dishes. It will be your job as his wife to keep a clean house."

Tiana rolled her eyes. "Mama..."

"Go on!" she encouraged.

Tiana sighed and walked back in the kitchen to see a completely bewildered man and couldn't help but to find him adorable. She's known the man for less than a week and yet for some strange reason she felt as if she's known him for most of her life. It seemed fast paced, even the kiss they shared seemed rushed but also so natural.

His funny language broke her musing along with a dish breaking on the floor.

"Looks like you're having trouble here," she squat down to pick up the glass.

Naveen grunted feeling like a complete idiot at his helplessness. But through all setbacks he was raised to continue with the journey. Brush aside his Maldonian pride he took a deep breath and admitted, "I've never washed dishes."

Tiana brushed the remaining of the glass onto the dustpan, throwing it in the garbage before joining him. "You've never wash any dishes?"

He shook his head. "Never in my life."

"Hmm." she picked up a dish. "Then I will teach you how."

Naveen raised a brow, a little surprised that she didn't ask why he's never done such an activity.

"The soapy side is where you wash the dishes, and this towel here will help you along the way...," she showed him how before letting him try.

Naveen caught on right away, but wanted didn't want to let her know that, "I'm still somewhat puzzled about this...dish washing."

Tiana raised a skeptical brow and got behind him to take both his hands. "I'll teach you on how to properly do this..."

She guided him and could definitely tell he was faking not knowing how to wash the dishes but played along. It wasn't everyday she would be close to a man she actually liked. And also hoped that her father wouldn't walk in on them.

"This is becoming very easy!" Naveen said, enjoying her hands on his. He's always enjoyed the touch of a woman, but Tiana's simple touch felt more than just enjoyment. It was something he wanted to have for the rest of his life. When he kissed her last night it was the first time he was swept off his feet. Her inexperience quickly changed to the best kisser he's ever kissed. There was something about the woman that really made her all the more intriguing.

"Alright now you can dry the last three!" Tiana stepped back beside him.

Naveen looked down at her while drying the dishes and could see Tiana gazing back up at him. "You know I almost forgot to mention how beautiful you look today."

She smiled. "Thank you...you don't look too bad." she poked on his chest "A little splash on ya shirt."

Naveen stepped up to her, taking her hand. "I hope you don't mind a little water..." he leaned over toward her.

Tiana didn't move as his lips inched closer to hers. In fact, she was holding her breath.

Naveen could sense her nervousness and whispered, "Just relax. I won't hurt you..."

She followed his advice just as their lips connected it once again. The kiss deepened which caused her losing herself once again.

Naveen was just as lost as his arms lifted her slightly to taste all of her mouth. The kiss felt so good that he couldn't suppress also feeling aroused.

Tiana this as well but was the one to stop to catch her breath.

"I'm sorry If you didn't want the kiss" Naveen apologized.

"No," she shook her head. "I wanted it and...it was...what I wanted."

Naveen smiled knowing that she was swept off her feet.

"You two have been..." Eudora stepped when seeing Naveen's arms around her daughter. "...having some fun in here, I see."

Naveen let Tiana go out of respect but the woman shook her head.

"No ya'll go back to what you were doin'. I was lettin' ya'll know that I'm steppin' out to Mrs. Davis."

"Alright mama," Tiana said, feeling embarrassed as her mother stepped back out. "Could she be anymore obvious?"

Naveen chuckled. "I wish I had that growing up."

"What? A mother who is in desperate need to marry her daughter off? I wouldn't wish that on my enemy."

"She cares and if my mother was that way then I don't think I would've grown up spoiled."

"Spoiled?" she raised her brow. "You seem very humbled to me."

"I think you made me that way," Naveen admitted.

"Really now?" Tiana rested a hand on her hip. "That's a first."

"In Maldonia where I come from everyone is pretty...boring. Very stiff and ancient," Naveen didn't understand why he had to tell her about his past life as a womanizer and partying faze. He felt that a good girl like her had to know about it.

"I decided that I didn't want that life and—

"Rebelled out?" Tiana finished, knowing where he was headed.

He frowned. "How did you know?"

She thought about her sister. "I just know."

"You also went through a faze?" he couldn't believe that she would ever have a wild streak.

"No, but I do know people who have and some turned out alright"

"So you don't find me a tainted sinner, or however your father mentioned today."

"I'm not my father and your past is your past. You grew from it, right?" she asked with a smile.

"Yes," he smiled back.

"You've moved on and accepted it?"

"I did."

"Then you are fine" she light slapped his arm. "God gives everyone a path and not everyone walks through the paths he already plans for them. Either they learn from the mistakes, regrets, fortune or they don't."

Naveen closed his eyes at the soft and honest tone of her voice. He knew that he couldn't keep his life as a prince a secret and only hoped that with her in this 'Godly' forgiving mood she would accept his life. A life he would hope to share with her someday.

"There is something that I want to share with you. About my life and how I grew up," he said.

Tiana saw him being serious and nodded. "Go on."

"I'm a prince."

()()()()