Life

Episode 5

Susan lay on her bed, facing the ceiling while talking to Rea on the phone. She went on and on about the whole incident that had happened today and the only thing that Rea could pick from her whole rant was this Darren guy that posed to be her mother’s boyfriend was an imposter and had those kind of intentions in mind though her mother was ignorant of the signs.
“well, with everything I can grab from this whole conversation, I think you’re jealous.’’
“what?, me, jealous….puhleaeeeze’’ she emphasized and rolled her eyes to an invisible Rea. ‘’and who am I jealous about, my mother, or this Darren guy who thinks he can sweep women off his feet and tries to date my mum?’’
“well, with the look of things, you seem to be jealous that he’s not even interested in you.’’ Rea replied bluntly.
“Rea!!!’’
“what?!!’’
She sat up. ‘’how can you say stuff like that?’’
“it’s the truth that I could think of and I had to say it. I mean its so obvious you like him cos all I’ve been hearing you say all day is your mum wont stop talking about him, whats so special about him anyway. Well, he’s good-looking and I bet he has eyes for older women. I won’t let him get his hands on my mum. He should have a younger girlfriend, and so much more. If you like this guy so much and you think he should have a young girl like you, then why don’t you make yourself available whenever he’s coming to your house.’’
Sue rolled her eyes realizing her friend was true but she hated the fact that it was true. She’d been awed at such young man standing at the door with flowers and wishing for a moment they were hers, just to find out he was the Darren her mum always talked about and the flowers most definitely were for her.
She allowed herself to dream a little about the possibility that he had eyes for her and she pictured his gorgeous face again, his darkish blond hair and his eyes.

Hazel eyes…
“hellooo’’ Rea broke into her daydream. ‘’Ryan is trying to get across, I’ll call you later okay..and if you can, try and take back your words by calling him. it won’t take you five minutes.’’
And she was gone.
She strolled back downstairs and went over to embrace her mum, her round form the only thing separating them.
“hey, its okay.’’ She stroked her hair and kissed her. ‘’it’s the hormones I guess.’’
“can I have Darren’s number? I wanna call and tell him I’m sorry.’’
“its okay. I already did that on your behalf.’’
Sue was disappointed but she didn’t give up. ‘’where did you say he works again?’’

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Sue stood nervously peeping at her wedges from time to time while waiting for him to show up. she’d told the man she met whom she wanted to see and he told her to wait while he went to get him since he was working on a car inside the auto-repair shop.
Rea was going to have her head off for not following her to a place like this. How could she have expected her to come alone?
She wore a pink chiffon gown that stopped right above her knees and her hair was left to flow around her shoulders and face while her sunglasses were still intact. At least, that did well to promote her confidence, cos right now, she was feeling far from confident.

He finally showed up and when he did, she had to hold herself from swooning and falling off her feet. He was a mess but a hot one in soot and sweat, and a grey vest clinging to his chest revealing muscular arms and even with his vest, she could see his abs taking shape through the vest and she held herself from fanning herself.

“miss Brews?’’ he brought her back to the present.
“oh sorry, I’m so sorry.’’ She gulped glad that her shades were still on. “I came over to see you.., I mean to talk…’’ she found herself stuttering. ‘’I mean I came over to apologize about the other day.’’
“its okay.’’ He smiled. ‘’so you came all the way to apologize?’’
“well, sort of.’’she mumbled fondling her bag strap.
‘’you look great. Too good to come all the way here and waste that outfit on a place like this.’’ He came close to her and stretched forth his hands so that he could remove her shades. Sue hoped he wouldn’t see the way she was shaking and the sudden heat that crawled up her face when his fingers brushed her cheeks.

He looked into her eyes and she felt exposed. ‘’you’re beautiful inside and out and I know you didn’t mean what you said to me the other day.’’
She smiled and looked down. ‘’thanks.’’
He handed her shades back to her. ‘’I have to get back to work. Please say hi to your mum for me.’’
And he was gone before she could say anything else. Besides, what would she say? Oh, she could be like, ‘’gosh!! Man, you’re smoking hot!’ or “we could go on a date sometime. That would be so forward of her and she wasn’t used to pushing things since they came to her naturally.
She would need her mum’s help most definitely.

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Darren quickened his pace and hurriedly found way back underneath the vehicle he had been working on before his attention was called.
That was an A-list temptation and it took him extra self-control not to pull her into his arms and kiss her. he had thought Mandy was an angel, but her daughter was so much more. Now he knew he couldn’t compare what he had felt for Mandy with what he was currently feeling for Susan. He had been sympathetic with her and would go extra miles for her but with Susan, he wanted to hit the skies and never return.

The first day he set eyes on her was the day she had spewed out bile in anger but he didn’t mind. It was evident she felt a little jealous that he was probably becoming the center of attraction since she hardly stayed home. and since he’d brought flowers for her mum, what was a girl supposed to think…, most especially when women old and young came unto him in the past and he’d never objected to any of them.
That he was trying to woo her mother of course.
No daughter would like that happening with their pregnant mother.

And today, she’d worn that pink dress that made her look like a princess. A princess he wanted to claim for his own but a girl like her had boys flocking around her and money at her fingertips. He wasn’t ready to get his heart broken after all he had been through and most definitely not by her. he’d vowed never to sleep with any other woman till he found the girl he wanted to marry and he’d court her appropriately even if that sounded old fashioned.

What he had gone through in his past was enough to remind him that he wouldn’t return to his old life anymore.

He tried to focus on his work at the same time, reminding himself that he was going back to college soon and so he’d better know what he wanted.

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The door bell rang and Mandy inhaled sharply wondering if Susan was back soon from the grocery store which Darren had volunteered to take her since she’d insisted that she should.
Placing her hand on the cushion and kicking away the throw pillow which had been below her feet, she struggled to get up and head for the door.

The bell rang again.

“I’m coming!’’ she yelled back and stopped in her tracks when she saw Joe standing right in front of her holding flowers.
She was about slamming the door in his face when he stopped her half-way and forced his way inside.
“don’t you come any close or I’m calling the cops.’’ She threatened vaguely although the other side of her wanted to just fall on him and cry. She needed a man, and that man was Him.

Joe Brews. Even with his unshaven face, she wanted to stroke his chin and kiss him.
Why did she feel this way?
Was this how divorce was, getting separated completely and trying to bury your past love whereas he just keeps resurrecting and reminding her of their life together.
A life she barely had with him.
“I brought you flowers.’’
“you can drop them and leave.’’
“Mandy, please, just try and hear me out. I’m a changed person and I want you to see that I would do anything, all I can if you can just give me a chance. I would never ever treat you bad, I swear to God. If you want it written in a contract deal, I will and I will do much more if you just let me.’’
He went on his knees and placed his head on her swollen belly grabbing her hands although she tried to wiggle free but he held on crying into her belly and pleading desperately like his life depended on it.
“16years.’’ She mumbled and sniffed back tears. ‘’its too late. So late to come here begging me for mercy and forgiveness and asking me to take you back because I’m moving on without you.’’
“Mandy….’’
“joe, let me go.’’ She insisted.

He stood up and looked into her face seeing her eyes pooled with tears.
“my love….’’ He croaked and held her face looking into her eyes. ‘’I was so foolish even when you saved me long ago from a wretched life. I believe in God now and I believe he made you for me.’’
A dam broke and she fell into his arms. ‘’Joe, let me go, please.’’ But he silenced her with a firm kiss.

And then, he felt a thud against him and they both pulled away. Mandy placed her hand on her belly. ‘’it’s the baby. I guess He just kicked.’’
“my baby.’’ He laughed and tried to hold her again but that was before she screamed when the contractions came piercing through her.
“Mandy!, what’s wrong?’’
“I’ll be fine. The baby shouldn’t be due till next week.’’ She tried assuring him till she looked below her and saw the evident puddle of water. she looked up at her ex-husband and he didn’t waste time again. He hurried into the house as she instructed and brought out her already packed bag and went over to lead her gently to his car.

Just before he stepped outside, she stopped. ‘’it’s been a while I’ve done this.’’ And the tears of joy could be seen in her eyes. She pulled his face close to hers and kissed him passionately till he broke free.
Joe swallowed looking into her eyes filled with hope and forgiveness. She was finally going to let him back into her life.

“I want my baby to have a father.’’ She added trying to hold down the pain coursing through her while she told him her intentions.
“we can talk about that later baby.’’ He breathed and led her quickly into the car fidgeting with the keys wondering how a pregnant woman had more strength than himself who didn’t have the capability to carry one.
But he was happy as he drove.

Sue and Darren were in the food section of the grocery store contemplating about the cereal pack to get and laughing about the idea of buying all and getting to eat each one every day.

No doubt, they had started spending much time with each other and they loved the fact that they could talk about things and laugh about things freely. He was the quiet type. One with pierced ears which had no rings or s–d and she suspected it was his way of life in the past. He would be going back to college soon while she was getting prepared for hers as a freshman.

She talked about her fears and her desires and he told her it was something she could overcome if she put her mind to it and with God on her side.

He revered God, and she observed he mentioned him in most of their conversations and she didn’t mind. She didn’t even mind when he invited her to his church the last Sunday and how he’d offered her a bible, coming over to the house in the evenings for bible study and at the end, they prayed and watched TV.

She was falling in love with him and she knew it. Recently, she read the book of Ruth and she wanted to be like her where Darren was concerned. ‘’His people would be her people and His God would be hers. She just wanted to follow him and become his.

In fact she prayed about it at night.

“hey? You okay’’
She broke out of her daydream and saw him staring down at her. this time he was neatly covered in polo and baggy khaki shorts and slippers
“I’m fine.’’ She smiled.
He nodded and pulled the cart away from her so that he could stand beside her, hugging her briefly and kissing her temples.
They had become that close.
She wanted to keep leaning into him and bask in his scent but someone broke into their sweet solace.
“Darren?’’
They both turned and Sue stood staring at the older woman who had disrupted such a blissful moment.
“Elizabeth..’’ he breathed as the woman came closer to him and beamed excitedly checking him out without shame. She embraced him immediately and held unto his arms, or rather biceps as Susan noticed.
Who in the world was this old woman and how did she get to know Darren so intimately that she could embrace him, let her eyes stroll down his body and claw her fingers on his bulging biceps.
“wow, its so good to see you darling Darren.’’ She cooed. ‘’and I see you’ve been working out pretty well too.’’
He tried to politely wiggle out of her touch and quickly introduced Susan. ‘’I would like you to meet a very good friend of mine, Susan. Sue, meet Elizabeth’’
Sue noticed the pink flush on his face when the woman’s gaze went to Sue’s body as she was also in shorts and a pink tap top with hair neatly fixed into a ponytail. She was old enough to be her mother but didn’t act like one. She dressed provocatively for her age and Sue could tell she did more of plastic surgery to keep her looks in place.
“I see you’ve found yourself a new playmate.’’ She smiled falsely obviously envying the young body Sue possessed and how her neatly tanned legs were on display.
Sue’s phone suddenly rang and she picked it up only to scream, pulling at Darren.

“mum’s having a baby.’’ She cried excitedly and jumped on him out of reflex.
Not long after, they were rushing to the car with the groceries trying to get to the hospital as soon as possible, the incident that just occurred in the grocery store still at the back of their minds but to be sorted out soon.
But not now.

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Rea had prepared herself for this day and told herself for the hundredth time when the tears stung that she wasn’t going to let them force their way out. She brushed her hair hard till she winced when her scalp hurt.
Her mum knocked and entered before she responded but she didn’t mind. She turned to look at her and smiled.
“you look beautiful’’ she praised.
“thanks.’’
“I just came to see if you’re doing fine and if you need to talk to anybody, I’ll be here for you. Rick is here to buy loads of blue bunny for you and if you need to drive somewhere to be alone, you’re free to take his truck.’’
Rea could only laugh and embrace her mother tightly knowing the woman was doing all she could to make her adjust soon once Ryan left for the airport today.
He was taking the afternoon flight and so she had to quickly go over so he doesn’t miss it.
Or rather, to say her final goodbye.
She was going to college too and she had to come back and prepare for hers too.
When she got to his place, she found out she was just in time as all his luggage was already packed into the car while his father went to get the keys.
His mother saw her and greeted. ‘’Hi Andrea.’’
“hi’’ was all she could manage when her gaze went to Ryan and he was already coming towards her.
He held her face in his hands and tried to smile but she saw it was forced. ‘’I was beginning to think you wouldn’t come to say goodbye.’’
“I almost couldn’t.’’
“you don’t know how much this means to me.’’ he mumbled and pulled her into his arms hugging her fiercely. ‘’I love you Andrea.’’ He choked and for the first time in her life, Andrea realized she was in love with him as well.
‘’oh Ryan.’’ Was all she could mutter and the tears came unbidden this time. She couldn’t just hold it back. ‘’I don’t want you to leave me.’’
“I’m not leaving you. I’ll call you first thing when I get to school. Okay.’’
She nodded and he raked his hands through her hair carelessly but she didn’t care. She just swallowed the saliva in her throat hoping she could endure it all.
“okay. Please promise me.’’
“I promise.’’ He replied and hushed her. ‘’its okay baby. I hate to see you cry like this.’’
‘’I’ll stop.’’ She laughed and started wiping her face with her hands. Not able to bear her actions, he took her in his arms and kissed her like his life depended on it.
Rea surrendered to him completely and pulled him close ignoring the fact that his father was already outside with the keys and ready to leave.
He coughed and they parted slowly.
His mum came over to kiss him and embrace him once more while she held Rea’s hand.
“she’ll be fine.’’ She assured him. ‘’now you better go before you miss your flight. At least its better than taking a taxi.’’
“I love you mum.’’
‘’love you too sweetheart.’’
He looked at Rea again and sq££zed her other hand. ‘’goodbye.’’
“goodbye.’’
And he was gone.
The two women stood staring at the distance for a while before the older woman spoke. ‘’you wanna come in?’’
“no thanks. I’ll be fine.’’
“okay.’’ Was all she could say.
“I’m leaving for college next week by the way so I need to prepare.’’ She tried to look for an excuse. How could she explain to the woman that she was scared of entering her house and feeling the loneliness so much more.
But poor woman, wont she feel it more if she left her to be alone since his extended family were not around to make the huge house more lively.

She changed her mind. ‘’but I can come help with cooking if you want. Ryan tells me I’m bad with my cooking skills so I can just brush up with you.’’
That brought a smile to the woman’s face and she shrugged. ‘’let’s get started then.’’