Queen of Maldonia II

Resisting Temptation Part Three

Tiana sat on her bed bench still confused out of her mind about Baron Amaya. Why did she let him hold her the way he did? Why did she want him to do more when she is happily married to Naveen?

"This doesn't make any sense." Tiana said to herself. "I like Eduardo, but not in a romantic way."

Just then, her telephone rang.

She got up to answer it.

"Hello?"

"It's good to hear your voice." Naveen said.

Tiana was surprised to hear her husband on the phone, but was glad to hear his voice as well. "What's going on?"

"I'm tired. I'm at the ducthess' home. I just finished my final speech there."

"At Catherine's? Oh I haven't heard from her in a while. How is she?"

"She's...still alive." Naveen said. "She tried coming on to me."

"And what did you do?" Tiana asked with a raised eyebrow.

"What do you think? I pushed her away. I cannot help it if women find me irresistable." Naveen bragged.

Tiana rolled her eyes.

"And how are you and our children?" He asked.

"They are being their spoiled selves. It took all of me to not spank James." She answered.

"I'm glad you didn't. Spanking doesn't solve anything. Now, how is our baby?"

"A'lia is fine-

"No, I meant the one you are carrying right now." Naveen laughed.

Tiana's smile faded as her guilt returned. She hated lying to her husband, and with him being upfront and honest about Catherine, she knew she had to finally tell him. "When are you coming home?"

"Soon. Is there something wrong?"

"I just need to talk to you…" Said a now teary-eyed Tiana.

Naveen heard the crack in her voice and grew concern. "We can talk about it now."

"No, not on the phone. I need you here." Her voice made it sound like she was crying.

"Are you crying Tiana? Is something wrong with the baby? Tell me right now." Naveen said. He had a feeling that something was wrong with either Tiana or the baby.

"Just hurry home." She said. "I love you."

"I love you, too but I want to-" Naveen stopped when he heard a click on the other end. He knew that was something wrong. "Hey, Honvel!"

The guard approached the king. "Yes, your highness?"

"I'm needed at home now."

()()()()

To get away from everyone Tiana sat in the royal greenhouse, thinking of ways to tell Naveen about her no longer being pregnant. Even the presence of her gazania flowers didn't give her a peace of mind.

"Maybe some New Orleans air could do me some good." The young queen said, pouring some water on the flowers. She then sat the water can down as tears ran down her face. She's never been concerned of someone's opinion until she married Naveen. They made a vow to never keep secrets from one another and she felt as if she failed that vow.

Eduardo walked in the room with so many thoughts in his head. He didn't know his feelings for Tiana would be so strong. Holding her in his arms felt right. It brought back memories of the happiness he yearned to have again. He knew that going to his wife's favorite flowers would give him peace, and remind him that Tiana is not his late wife Maria.

He stopped when he saw Tiana wiping her eyes.

"Are you okay, Tiana?"

The queen looked at the Baron, surprised to see him.

He smiled a little. "It's okay, I will leave now-

"Don't leave." Tiana said. "I was just leaving." She walked passed him, but he took her hand.

"Tiana…wait." He said, still holding her hand.

Her eyes were filled with tears "No Edurado...I have to go."

"Why?" he asked, his hand still holding hers.

More tears ran down her cheeks as she went into Eduardo's arms.

The baron figured her tears were about their almost at the library. "I am sorry for what happened in the li-

"I don't know how I'm gonna tell Naveen about this miscarriage." Tiana said, cutting him off.

Baron Amaya forgot about the miscarriage. 'Of course she would be thinking about that'

"I just hope that Naveen doesn't get too disappointed. He really wanted to have another baby…I wanted this baby, and to lose it the way I did…" She broke down.

Eduardo comfort the young queen by rubbing her back. "Naveen will not be disappointed. He will understand why you didn't tell him."

"I pray that he does understand." Tiana pulled back.

Eduardo wiped her tears from her face. "You are too beautiful to cry. Smile for me."

Tiana didn't budge.

"Oh come Tiana! For me?" He made a funny face.

She couldn't hold back and laughed a little. "Thanks. I need a friend right now."

Friend. That word hit the baron hard, but knew that's all they could ever be. She's a married woman, and she told him that when Naveen's name came out of her mouth.

So Eduardo opened his arms and held Tiana again. "Anytime…my dear friend."

Tiana rested her head on his chest. She really apprecaited the support the baron was giving her.

"You know...I remember my years in the navy and not really connecting with anyone. Not even my own half-brother." Eduardo shared, still holding Tiana in his arms. "To make a long story short, my experience in the navy wasn't to grand until I met Naveen, your husband. He was about seventeen or eighteen, very different person when it came to women, but had an open-mind and heart of gold, as he does now."

Tiana pulled from the hug. "What does your navel past have to do with my secret?"

"If Naveen, a powerful royal figure could accept me publicly as a friend, after coming from a much hated family as mine then you have nothing to worry about. And the fact that he married you despite you coming from another country, no known names, and skin as dark and beautiful as yours says a lot about his character." He caressed her face. "You're his wife, he will love you no matter what. And he will also understand that you only kept this miscarriage a secret for his protection."

Tiana hugged Edurado again. "You're right. Thank you for reminding me of how good of a man my husband is."

He returned the hug. "Naveen is very blessed to have you."

Naveen walked in the greenhouse to find the baron holding onto his wife. Jealousy grew in him.

"Well isn't this a lovely union."

Both the baron and Tiana pulled from the hug.

Tiana quickly saw the jealousy in her husband's eyes. "Naveen-

"Go back to your hugging. You two were very comfortable before I walked in." The king said.

The baron shook his head. "Naveen, it isn't what it looks like."

Naveen approached the man. "Really now?"

Tiana stepped in between the two. "Naveen!"

Eduardo nodded his head. "Yes. Tiana needed a friend."

"She has a husband." Naveen said.

"I understand that, but you were gone so I thought I could-

"Could take my place? How convenient." Said an angry Naveen.

"Naveen he's right. He was only comforting me." Tiana said.

"Yes...comforting." Naveen said, looking at his wife. "Is this why you're so damn afraid to speak with me? Because your new friend have everything taken care of?"

Tiana shook her head. "No..." She took his hand. "It's more than that. Eduardo was just being a gentleman."

"A gentleman by convenience." It took all of Naveen to not hit Eduardo. He clenched his fists. "I warned you to not try anything with my wife."

Tiana's eyes widen. "Naveen! He wasn't doing anything!" She tried explaining.

"So now you're sticking up for him?" He asked. "What aren't you telling me Tiana? That you two having an affair behind my back?"

"You know me Naveen." Tiana said.

"Naveen…" Eduardo started. "We are only friends. She was crying. I comforted her-

"Horseshit Eduardo!" Naveen cursed. "The way you were looking at my wife in her bathing suit? The side-flirting...how could I be so damn stupid?"

The baron shook his head. "But Naveen-"

"I thought you were my friend. But I guess my father was right about one thing. To never trust anyone. Especially the people closest to you." He looked at the baron and his wife. "Your work here is done Eduardo...permanently. You are no longer welcome in my palace. I banish you."

Tiana saw the hurt in her husband's eyes before he left the room, and knew she had to explain what he saw.

She followed Naveen to their suite. She closed the doors before taking his hand. "Naveen…stop it!"

He faced his wife, looking down at her. "What do you want?"

Tears were running down her face as she saw the pain in his eyes. "Naveen-

"Were you and Baron Amaya having an affair behind my back?"

"No…I would never…" She stopped and decided to change to a more important subject. "I lost the baby."

Naveen's stern look softened a little. He was not expecting to hear that. "What?"

"I lost the baby a couple months ago…in the shower." She explained.

Naveen shook his head. "What? No, no you couldn't have lost the baby two months ago. The doctor checked on you-

"I had him lie for me." Tiana confessed.

The king couldn't believe what he just heard. "Tell me you're joking." He said with watery eyes. "This is a sick joke, right?"

Tiana rested her hand on her chest after seeing her husband's hear breaking. "It's true Naveen..."

"Damnit!" Naveen shouted, walking away from his wife. "No, this isn't true."

Tiana tried touching his back, but was startled when he punched into the wall. He groaned, holding his hand.

Tiana covered her mouth with her hand as she watched him take a seat on the bed bench, covering his face with his hands. "Why didn't you tell me this the day it happened?"

"Because you were so happy...everytime I tried telling you…" She sat beside him. "You have no idea how much pain I felt when I held it from you."

Naveen's tears fell as he broke down. It broke Tiana's heart knowing that she was the cause of his pain.

She started rubbing his back. "Naveen, honey-

"So you thought that it would be a wise idea to tell another man about the miscarriage and not me…your husband?" He asked

She frowned. "What?"

Naveen wiped his eyes as he stood back up. "You heard me. You told another man about the miscarriage before even telling your husband? The father of that child?"

"I told you the reason why I didn't tell you, and Eduardo finding out was an accident."

Naveen started walking toward the door, but Tiana ran in front of him.

"If you're going to blame anyone blame me...I was too selfish to tell you."

Naveen sighed, walking around his wife. He didn't want to hear anything from her right now.

"Please don't leave Naveen." Tiana pleaded.

As he opened the doors he stopped and thought for a second. Tiana only did what she did for his emotional protection. Sure the loss of their child was heartbreaking, but for her to go through it, to hold in all that pain for as long as she could must've been hell. He couldn't leave his wife...not when she needed him.

So he closed the doors and turned to look at her. Taking both her hands with his; teary-eyed himself. "We will mourn our child together."

Tears ran down Tiana's face and she wrapped her arms around him. Naveen did the same with her.

"I'm so sorry." Tiana apologized.

"No, I'm sorry." Naveen apologized back. "To even think you would ever cheat on me was just my jealous heart. I know you would never do such a thing." He pulled back a little just to look down at her. "And I will apologize to my friend...our friend."

Tiana didn't say another word. All she could do is look at her husband's beautiful honey colored eyes that was filled with tears. She knew he was sincere with every word that came out of his mouth.

The king cupped his wife's cheek. "And when we are ready...when you're ready, I would like for us to try again. I want another child Tiana."

She only nodded her head. She too wanted another child.

Naveen kissed the top of his wife's head. "I love you and only you, and it will never end, Tiana. Don't ever forget that."

"I will never stop loving you Naveen." Tiana said. "My heart belongs to only you."

Both shared a kiss before embracing each other once again.

()()()()()