Life

Episode 20

Rea’s wedding was going so well and she couldn’t be more grateful that everyone she loved was present while God spilled so much love for herself and Ryan coming back together again to get married
Who would have known?

Susan got interrupted by her baby girl Melanie most especially when she had to excuse herself to breastfeed her or change her diapers.

But the girl was a good sport and apart from her grandparents carrying her, everyone else wanted to carry her. and Susan was glad to be relieved and didn’t take time heading to the dance floor to join the bride and the groom.

Scarlett laughed when Sue came over to pull her to the dance floor because she knew she wasn’t going to no matter how much she was persuaded. Her parents were also present and joined the fun for a while before coming over to join her.

She knew by five, she had to hit the road back home.

Ryan came towards her and smiled into her eyes. ‘’and would this beautiful lady mind dancing with me and put this young lad out of his misery.’’

Scarlett blushed out of excitement and the love shown to her by everyone around and would have refused but saw Rea’s pleading eyes over her father’s shoulder and so she gave in.
Afterall, the song playing wasn’t a hippy one anymore but a slow melodious one that she just needed to sway to.

She received his hand and followed him to the dance floor placing her hands in his and they moved so easily to the song playing. Rea had chosen a perfect song for her wedding. ‘I won’t Let you go’ by Rascal Flatts. She was so much in love with the song and knew she wouldn’t mind if it was played on her wedding day too.
“you okay?’’ he murmured against her ears
She smiled sadly. ‘’I’m fine Ryan. The only thing you owe me is taking good care of my friend and making her happy.’’
“She’s my bestfriend.’’

Scarlett swallowed tears. ‘’and you’ve become hers, from now on. I’m not her bff anymore, you are and you’ll always be, never forget that.’’
“I wont.’’
“good.’’ She smiled into his eyes and hugged him.
“Can I have this dance?’’ someone interrupted and Scarlett turned to see it was Josh.

The way he appeared out of nowhere amazed her.
Ryan smiled into her eyes and nodded like he understood. She wouldn’t be surprised if himself and Rea had planned this.

She took Josh’s hand and he pulled her into his arms gently, her fullness the only thing between them. He placed his lips close to her hair and they moved slowly and simultaneously as one of his hands rested on her back to pull her close while the other held her hands in his.

It took him double self-control not to trace his fingers down her elbow and unto her soft skin.

The memory of how soft she felt still dangled in his memory vividly.

“I’ve missed you.’’
She rested her head on his shoulder and threw an arm on his neck while the other rested in his as they danced. She didn’t say a word but they just kept moving as the song changed to Shania Twain’s From this moment’ and she kept telling herself not to cry but just keep dancing.

Though she didn’t talk or mention a word while they danced alone, Josh appreciated the fact that she still Loved him, she wanted the best for him, would wait for him and she carried half of himself and half of herself inside her womb.

He could feel a slight kick as they danced and they parted. Josh knew fully well what it was and he smiled glad that he could partake briefly in something that belonged to them both
He was happy and wished everything would sort out itself soon.

‘Soon’ he told himself
Scarlett left him some minutes after to go home.

But she didn’t look back to say goodbye.

‘’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;

Scarlett smiled tiredly when she saw her mother standing above her in the hospital. The older woman returned her smile and pulled her hair away from her face.

“Congratulations sweetheart.’’
Scarlett heard her baby crying and choked on her emotions when the boy was brought to her. she was tired and exhausted after pushing and panting and screaming but that didn’t prevent her from stretching her hands for her son.
“hey you.’’ she smiled and leaned forward to kiss him. He looked so sweet and innocent and cute. And his eyes stared blankly back at her when she laughed and kissed him again.
Soon enough she was crying on him.

The boy started crying again and the nurse collected the baby from her to clean him up while her mother stayed with her.
‘’it’s okay. You don’t have to cry. You should be grateful to God. With everything you’ve been through. For the kind of people you’re surrounded with and how much you’ve gained back when God restored your soul. Not everyone has a chance to return but you did and look at you. strong as oak.’’
Scarlett turned her face away and she tried to wipe her tears with the back of her hand before her mother handed her a Kleenex.
“I still love him. infact, I’m scared I might just run to him if he comes to me. I’ve handed it over to God but sometimes, I just cant bear the torture I feel when I don’t hear from him.’’

“it’s okay. I understand. God understands’’
“David is such a beautiful boy. His son. I told him about the name and he didn’t mind at all. He was so calm over the phone and I got scared that I might be losing him finally. What if he finds another woman? What if he falls in love with someone else? What if he doesn’t want to seek God?’’
“shhhh…., you bother your little head too much. The last time I checked, God was the one I handed all my problems to. If not, I don’t know how I would have survived.’’ Alex kept patting her hair. ‘’you just keep your focus on God and just keep loving him no matter what. And whatever happens, know that he loves you and would never stop loving you. everything he does is for our own good. He would never do you wrong.’’
Scarlett sniffed and nodded smiling briefly at her mum. She looked up towards the window where the curtains had been drawn finally and she saw Josh in a hooded sweater and blinked.

Nobody was there. Was she beginning to hallucinate?
“Ma’am, your son’’
She blinked again and received her son from the nurse once more smiling into his face this time, and kissing his fist and his face. Every single part of him she cherished.
‘’he’s so beautiful.’’ Alex wiped a tear from her eye as Scarlett passed the baby to her with these words. ‘’hello David, say hello to Grandma. Grandpa will be here pretty soon.’’
‘’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’
Josh moved away quickly and hid himself behind the door before peeping again. The other time, Scarlett saw him but she thought it was an illusion and he once again, praised himself for wearing the hooded jacket as that did a good job of hiding his identity.
He normally didn’t dress like that but for this purpose he had to.
He saw his baby and wished he could go inside and carry him the way Alex did. And he’d loved to say the words, ‘’hey big guy, say hi to Daddy.’’
But he couldn’t. Scarlett wouldn’t want him to and he had to prove to her that he loved her enough to keep seeking God’s face and that he would do. He wished he had been there to hold her hand while she pushed, he wished he had been there to kiss her deeply after she succeeded in delivery. He wish he was the one there right now, talking and laughing with her, making sure she didn’t cry because everything was going to be fine.
And he knew he really had to keep calling God’s name to reveal himself to him before he lost Scarlett forever.

He saw her father enter into her hospital room and he shifted away.

It was time to go.

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A year later

Josh opened the door and peeped into his son’s room. It had been a while Demi left them but she visited often. Scarlett kept her part of the deal by sending him pictures and videos of his son’s growth and birthday party when he clocked one since he just did yesterday. He sent her some cash but she rejected it and told him not to worry.
She talked about her new job briefly since she was back to teaching and was considering a project she wanted to engage in to help homeless children. Afterwards, their conversation would end awkwardly.
‘’should I tuck you in?’’
Gavin looked up. ‘’I think I’m getting too old to be tucked in.’’ they both laughed and Josh entered his room while he wrapped up whatever he was doing on the computer
‘’bedtime story?’’
“nah, I just want to pray and go to bed.’’
“Okay.’’
He was about leaving the room when Gavin called out. ‘’Dad, please, do you mind us praying together. even if it’s just tonight.’’
Josh raised his eyebrows and shrugged. ‘’okay. If that’s what you want.’’
Gavin knelt down to pray and Josh felt awkward standing or sitting on the bed while his son knelt down and so he joined him too.

“Dear Lord, thank you for each day, for my mum wherever she is and for my Daddy who you love so much. Thank you for aunt Demi who was kind enough to raise me with Daddy before leaving and thank you for me. thank you for today and every other day Dad goes to work and comes back safe and sound. Thank you that you keep us safe even with all the bad things that happen on TV. Thank you for Miss Ruby and everyone presently on earth.

I ask that you bless me, my mum, my Dad, aunt Demi, Grandpa J.J and Grandma and Miss Ruby.

Send your angel to keep watch over us.

Amen.’’
“amen.’’ Josh stood up and smiled briefly at his son watching him hop into bed on his own accord.

He pulled the covers over him. ‘’Goodnight Daddy.’’

Josh kissed him. ‘’night’’
He switched off the light and closed the door behind him thinking about his son’s simple but beautiful prayer. So unselfish and loving. He smiled as he thought about the part of God keeping him safe from harm whenever he went to work.

Did God actually concern himself with little things like that? He wondered. Well in his own book, he didn’t think so. He just happened to drive carefully and obey the traffic lights. And as for security, he had adequate security to keep himself and his son safe.

He yawned and stretched heading to his room when he realized he was tired and he was going to rise early tomorrow and prepare breakfast for Gavin and everything else that was necessary.

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When Josh dropped Gavin to school, he realized he was late and had to get to work in time.

The traffic was less by the time he was heading to work and he was glad he might make it sooner than he thought.

The red traffic light came on and he pulled the brakes and he used that as an opportunity to answer the call that came through his phone at that time.

It was an old client.

Since it was hands free, he was able to respond without much ado and they chatted briefly till the lights turned green and he moved. It was at this moment a large truck came from nowhere and before Josh could understand what in the world was going on, there was a loud crash against his car and he snapped out.