Life

Episode 4

Days turned into weeks and weeks into months and so did Rea and Ryan’s relationship wax stronger. They texted, called and had dates with other friends and Rea got to know all about Ryan’s life, his friends and his family. They talked about everything and sometimes when they didn’t talk, she would lie down on his chest and cuddle up to his huge frame basking in his scent.

If he called and she mentioned she was in the kitchen, he’d be at her place in about twenty minutes time rolling up his sleeves and asking where and how he could be useful. She knew he couldn’t really cook, but just wanted to be next to her just the way she wanted so much to be with him.

Her phone was filled with all the pictures they took together, not excluding the one with the funny faces.
Everyday she wanted him to be close to her. they composed lyrics together and when he played, she would just sit and stare at him, lost in the song, in his voice, in the words they’d written together.
She had never known herself to be so dependent on a boy and she got scared.
Was this what love meant?
Was this why wyclef Jean sang that he was in trouble in his song with Mary J. blige?. She wasn’t a fan of his kind of music or RnB either. Scarlett had been the mushy one. The one who knew all the country songs and RnB’s about love and she sang along when they all played on her radio in her car or her computer. The one who cried when she heard a particular love song she loved and even though her reactions irked her then, she would give anything to see her bestfriend again and hear her sing all her love songs. Share her detailed love life with her and if things had worked out, it’d be she and Josh and herself and Ryan.

But everything had gone so wrong and she blamed herself everyday.

Ryan preferred her in dresses and he’d mentioned it a time or two and she immediately dialed her emergency number.
Susan Brews.
They’d gone shopping for gowns and shoes.
Tonight, just before Prom, he was inviting her to his place to meet his family and she wanted to look her best. No sneakers, no faded jeans or distressed jeans. No gothic looking make-up or T-shirt.
A simple gown would go with a nice beaded necklace and a good pair of sandal.
When he came over to pick her, he could only stop and stare. He’d never seen a gentle looking Rea looking so noble. Just because he’d asked her to.
“well, don’t just stand there and stare, how do I look?’’
He leaned towards her and kissed her letting the moment last.

“now that’s an awesome answer.’’ She giggled and touched his face. He kissed her fingertips and her nose.
“and so much more.’’ He withdrew and turned on the ignition zooming off to his house.

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When they arrived at his place, Rea thought they were having a buffet party with the whole town present. Ryan Riverstone had a huge family and contrary to what she thought, they were really nice to her, treating her like she was one of theirs and telling her stuffs about Ryan when he was a child. She ate, drank and danced with almost everybody and when they were not looking, Ryan pulled her away to the balcony where less people were and drew her into his arms dancing to the song playing in the distant background.

“practicing for tomorrow?’’ she mumbled into his shoulder moving as he moved. Slowly but peaceful to be in each other’s arms.

“should we?’’
‘’I don’t know.’’ She held him closer knowing she didn’t want them to talk about the future. Not here, not now.

Why couldn’t this last forever? Why couldn’t time stop right now and let them be happy together forever
Oh this wasn’t good. She hated this feeling most especially when it made her vulnerable to anything presently. If Ryan met someone else, she’d die. She couldn’t live without him.
When girls talked of heartbreaks, she never knew this was what they had felt for them to just be dumped by the special person in their lives.

The music stopped and Ryan stopped moving.
When he looked into her eyes, he frowned and asked.
“what’s wrong?’’
It was then she realized she had been crying.
Darren Roadshaw was one of those young men in his twenties who believed he’d fallen in love at first sight with Mandy Brews the moment he set eyes on her when she’d come with a complaint about her car to his father’s auto-repair shop. He just had a little break from college and loved to spend his time in his father’s place since he was going into the engineering field full time.
He just loved fixing things and using his hands to see things come together. he was so focused, handsome and had the body of an athlete. He’d had a girlfriend in the past but things didn’t seem to work well between them and so they broke up and here was Mrs Brews, making him feel things he’d thought he might never feel again but She was pregnant, had a complicated on-going divorce and was obviously still emotionally entangled to her ex-husband who wouldn’t stop going after her.
He wondered why she wouldn’t issue a warrant on him if she hated seeing him so much and knew there must be so much more to the whole affair.

But why did he feel this way. She was so out of his league, had a daughter whom he was still bound to set eyes on since the girl was hardly in the house but he felt so much for the woman
Or was it just sympathetic love?

He would go as far as getting groceries for her, calling her to ask about her health, insisting he drive if she said she wanted to go anywhere and she loved talking to him.

Little did he know Mandy saw him more as a son than a lover to be.

He noticed her lawyer and how the man showered her with flowers and gifts, not excluding the calls. And then, her ex-husband would come over and linger till evening when she insisted she wanted to rest.

He was going over to her place today and he thought of buying flowers. He knew she loved flowers and had a garden she tended to every day.

He just hoped he was feeling the right way and prayed to God to lead him aright most especially when his feelings intended to lead him astray.

When he got to the door, he knocked and when the door opened, he was held spellbound by the person who stood before him.

It was like a smaller version of Mandy Brews.

He was shocked for two reasons. He’d never seen a prettier version of his crush and he was holding flowers for her mother.

How would she see him?

“hi’’ he greeted trying to look confident whereas he could feel the heat crawling to his neck.

“hi…’’ she raised an eyebrow and cocked her head. ‘’and you must be Darren Roadshaw, the young man my mum won’t stop talking about.’’
He smiled nervously.

“you bought her flowers.’’ He noticed the way her countenance changed on realizing the kind of guy he was and she stepped back to allow him gain access into the house.
He came in still unable to voice out a defense.
Mandy appeared right into the foyer with her stomach still looking as round as usual. She embraced him warmly and kissed his cheek.
“Darren is the young man who’s stolen my heart when you’re away pulling stunts with your friends.’’ She giggled and accepted the flowers. ‘’its lovely.’’
“I’m glad you like it’’
‘’honey, do you mind going into the kitchen and getting him some iced tea. The young man must be famished.’’ She winked at him and held his hands leading him into the sitting room. ‘’just wait till I tell you all about what Sue and I have been up to.’’
She seemed to be in a good mood. He noticed and tried to tag along till he heard a crash in the kitchen
He stood up immediately out of reflex and hurried into the kitchen to see what had gone wrong.

Ice cubes lay splattered on the floor and he saw Sue’s smooth face contorted in pain while she held her bleeding finger.
‘’you okay?’’
“obviously I’m not okay.’’ She snapped and extended her hand to the tap while turning the water on. he came close to her but she shifted. ‘’I can take care of myself thank you very much.’’
“is everything alright over there?’’ Mandy yelled
“everything is fine!’’ she yelled back and hissed obviously still ignoring the fact that the young man in the kitchen wanted to assist her.
“you don’t need to get me ice-tea. I can help myself.’’
“just the way you’ve been helping yourself around my mother ever since you came into her life.’’ she blurted out.
‘’I don’t know what you’re really after, if it’s her money or if it’s just older women that turn you on, but the last thing my mother needs right now is a toy boy and as you can see, she’s pregnant’’
Darren stood transfixed and couldn’t say a word but hurt that the girl had brought him so low without even getting to know him personally.
Was there any wonder the men preferred her mother
He stepped out of the kitchen and headed to the living room. For a while, she could hear only whispers and nothing much.
And then she heard the door closing and sudden silence.

She packed the ice from the floor and threw a rag on it hopping over the water to see where her mother was.

The woman sat in the living room looking at the mute TV
‘’you okay?’’
“yeah..’’ she smiled sadly. ‘’I’m fine.’’
“then why are you staring at the mute screen?’’
She stood up and strolled over to her. ‘’I miss him already I guess.’’
“who?…ohh, you mean Darren?’’
“yeah, he was acting kinda awkward when he came over today and when he came back from the kitchen giving some lame excuse that he had to attend to something very urgent.’’
Sue shrugged. Well, he’d better run fast and do so” she thought within herself
“well, maybe he had something to attend to. Its not like he’s your husband or anything.’’
Mandy looked into Sue’s eyes then. ‘’What?’’
“well, I was the one who told him to buzz off and you don’t need someone like him at this time of your life. for crying out loud, you’re pregnant mum!!carrying another man’s baby.’’
“oh my god!’’ she covered her face and closed her eyes in pain realizing how foolish her daughter had been.
“what?’’
“is this about your father?’’ she sounded angry
“and what if it is?’’
“what has he been telling you about Darren?’’
“nothing that isn’t the truth, and with all your songs about Darren being so loving and caring and funny and cute and blah blah blah!! What is there not to insinuate?’’
‘’you are going to call that young man right this minute and apologize to him. you are going to take back those words and tell him you didn’t mean any of it..understood!!’’
“like I care?’’
“don’t you talk rude to me young lady. That man has been there for me when you go for your silly outings and forget you have a mother present at home.’’
“well, I have a life…arrgggggh’’
She was about going upstairs but she pulled her back and turned her to look into her face. ‘’don’t you walk out on me young woman. You try anything funny and I’ll spank you. Try calling the cops and you’ll tell me how you want your pregnant mother to start answering stupid questions.’’
Sue boiled but stood with arms across her chest.
“when did you become so rebellious? It’s that girl isn’t it? That Rea girl you’ve been going everywhere with. I knew there was a mischievous glint in the girl’s eyes when I first set my eyes on her.’’
“Now, let me correct you on your foolishness. Number one, Darren is not my boyfriend and I don’t intend making him one anytime soon. Gosh! He’s old enough to be your boyfriend. the kid is in College for crying out loud.
And number two, never say anything stupid to my visitors when you’re not so sure of their intentions!’’
“and as long as you live under my roof and eat my food and you haven’t carried another life in your body, you remain my daughter. No two mothers or bosses can live under this roof understood!!
“understood.’’ She mumbled. ‘’can I go now?’
‘’get me a glass of juice before going to your room.’’
And she was gone.

Mandy sighed and sank into the cushion. it must be the baby because her hormones were terribly getting hyper these days. A moment ago, she was all sweet and nice, and now, Sue must think she was a cruela de vil.
Well sometimes, having two women under the same roof required one boss out of the two and that boss would remain her till she left for college.