-Episode Twenty Eight-
Wesley
It’s a Sunday afternoon and the sun is shining brightly on us we are having lunch at one of the best restaurants in town, i love this place because it has a beautiful outdoor setting.
Lulu and I are sitting next to each other facing us from across the table are Victor and his new girlfriend Kathy, he ended things with Millie about two weeks ago. Sabrina and Zach are sitting on the other side, I hope the two can hook up, Mathias is missing he’s out of town for work.
‘So,’ Victor begins, ‘have you guys finally set your wedding date?’
‘Yes,’ Lulu responds smilingly
I stare at her in shock because just yesterday she told me she was still trying to find the perfect date.
‘And what date did you decide on?’ I ask
‘August 18th,’ she says looking at me intently
I gag on my food, taking a large swig of water to prevent from chocking August 18th is Zaria’s birthday.
‘Are you okay?’ she asks
‘Choose another date, not the 18th,’ I say
‘Well that’s the date I want,’ she says suspiciously
‘That’s Zaria’s birthday,’ Zach says
‘Oh.’
‘I don’t think it’s appropriate that we should get married on her birthday,’ I say
‘Wesley I don’t care if the 18th is Zaria’s birthday, we are getting married on that day full stop.’
Victor clears his throat, ‘Well she is the bride and if that’s the day she wants to set as her wedding day, then so be it,’ he says
‘So,’ Lulu starts, ‘The 18th of August is like three months from now, we have a lot of planning to do, I want us to be married by the time this child is born.’
‘Okay,’ I respond, ‘I just don’t know what game Lulu is playing but I seriously hate it.’
We spend the next few minutes discussing the wedding, the venue and all the other tiny details.
‘You have been unusually quiet, tsup?’ Sabrina pokes Zach
He shoots her a serious look, ‘I am okay,’ he says in a cold and harsh tone.
I don’t know what’s happening to Zach, he seems to be in a world of his own, he has been distant the past few weeks. I can sense that something is wrong but he doesn’t want to confide in us.
I am about to ask Zach to act polite when I catch sight of Zaria, she is leaning against a car while talking on phone. She is wearing a dress that shows her body off spectacularly & she has her hair tied back loosely, I scan her body and smile, she still is a beautiful woman.
Shortly after, a man walks over to her and wraps his arms around her and whispers in her ear. A huge smile spreads across her face then he leans in and kisses her.
I am a bit shocked I didn’t think she would have moved on so fast.
All of a sudden, Lulu slaps my arm hard startling me from my trance, ‘Are you for real?’ she yells
‘What?’
‘You are staring at her.’
Everyone at the table shifts their attention towards Zaria’s direction, ‘Zaria!’ Zach says.
Afterwards a waiter walks over to them and directs them to a table next to ours.
Zaria and her man walk hand in hand smilingly, she notices us as she walks passed our table but ignores us completely.
Yes things didn’t work between us and I have moved on but don’t I deserve a little hi.
‘Maybe we should leave,’ Zach says when he senses the tension in the air.
‘No!’ Lulu says, ‘we won’t leave because Zaria is here, we all have to get used to this,’ she says
*******
Zaria
‘Are you okay?’ Oscar asks as he pours me a second glass of wine
‘Yes,’ I lie.
Seeing Wesley has completely ruined my mood, I know I am supposed to get used to bumping into him in public but it’s just so hard to ignore him and pretend he doesn’t exist.
I would be lying if I say I have completely gotten over him, i still get goose bumps when I see him or hear his name and my heart still skips a bit.
You know what’s really irritating, it’s seeing all his friends at that table having fun with Lulu, these are the same people I welcomed into my home and treated like family.
Anyway, I have learnt my lesson I will never entertain a man’s friends ever again.
*****
YEDDA
I just grabbed myself a cup of coffee from the kitchen and I am about to settle down into my chair for a movie when a knock sounds at the door.
Placing my cup on the table, I head for the door. When I open the door, I look around but there is no one in sight, I am about to walk back in when I notice a strange black box sitting on the doorstep. I analyze the box wondering who could have left it there.
‘For Yedda Dawson,’ the note on top reads but it isn’t signed. I pick it up, it’s extremely heavy and a little smelly. I carry it into the house and put it on the coffee table.
I quickly grab one of the knives from the kitchen and swipe open the duck tape before pulling the cardboard flaps. I cover my nose at the horrible smile from the box before looking down.
Bile rises at the back of my throat and I vomit, acid burning my throat and mouth retching hard, I am unable to control the spasms that jerk my body.
Inside the box is a puppy whose head has been severed from its body while the tail and its tongue have been chopped off into pieces.
My heart starts to beat so fast that I think it will burst out of my chest. My body is shaking and I am screaming from the top of my lungs.
As my head begins to spin, I reach for something to hold myself. Eventually I pick up my phone, scroll down and dial Alex’s number, hoping he will pick up.
I hold the phone up to my ear with shaky hands and listen to it ring. Tears are running down my face.
****
ALEX
I am chairing a meeting at work when my phone rings, without checking the caller id. I hit the speaker button and answer with a curt, ‘Hello.’
‘Baby,’ she cries out.
When I realise its Yedda, I excuse myself from the meeting and walk out.
‘Baby! Are you okay?’ I ask.
‘No,’ she bursts into tears.
‘What happened?’
‘Please come,’ she pleads
‘Where are you?’
‘I am at home.’
‘Okay stay put I am on my way.’
From the tone in her voice I can sense something is wrong.
I rush back into the office and excuse myself before rushing down to my car. I hope she is fine.
**
A gambling Heart
-Episode Twenty Nine-
ALEX
Tears are running down her face and her hands are shaky, she is sucking in great gasps of air. I draw her into my arms she presses her head to my chest and cries.
Aside from the strange box with the dead dog an unknown number sent her messages and strange photos on whatsapp with the words, ‘Your end is near, watch your back.’
A part of me breaks when I feel her body heaving and shaking in my arms.
‘I won’t let anyone hurt you,’ I say in a weary voice, I am so scared at this point because history might be repeating itself.
Why does it seem like every girl I get involved with somehow gets threatened by unknown people? I won’t let anything happen to Yedda I will what I can do protect her.
Her bedroom door swings open a few minutes later and Zaria walks in carrying a cup of tea in her hands.
‘Baby, drink this it will help you feel better,’ she says handing the cup to Yedda.
Yedda picks up the cup and saucer and tries to keep it steady in her trembling hands.
Zaria sits at the edge of the bed and watches as Yedda rapidly drinks her tea. When she finishes drinking her tea, she hands the cup back to Zaria.
‘I will be in my room if you need me,’ Zaria tells Yedda then she turns to me, ‘We need to talk,’ she says
I nod my head.
I wipe the tears from her eyes and softly shush her. After a few minutes she snuggles into my body and calms down as her eyes shut close, soon she is sleeping.
Finally I gently lay her on the bed and cover her body. I watch her sleep she looks fragile beyond belief. With one finger I reach out and caress her cheek, she looks so soft. I brush my thumb over the shadows beneath her closed lashes.
I kiss her forehead softly then get up from the bed and quietly leave the room.
****
ZARIA
I am deep in thoughts that I don’t hear Alex join me in the living room. He clears his throat and I look up at him.
‘Hey,’ he says
‘Hey.’
He seats on the couch across from the one I am sitting on.
‘Can I get you some coffee?’ I ask
‘Sure.’
I rise to my feet and walk into the kitchen I pour him a cup of coffee, walk back into the living room and hand it to him.
‘Thanks,’ he says
‘I am trying so hard to understand who sent Yedda that disgusting gift and those nasty messages and pictures ,’ I say
He takes a sip from his coffee,’ well it’s quiet strange,’ he says.
‘The girls and I don’t necessarily have enemies, well maybe we have one or two people who don’t like us but I don’t think anyone who knows us would be stupid enough to do that.’
He sighs.
‘What I am saying is that, this was a personal attack on Yedda and it must have come from someone who has a grudge on her. My question is “do you have any ex’s that would wanna hurt Yedda or any people who would wanna hurt you by getting through her?”
He hesitates for a moment before he responds, ‘I don’t know of anyone who could want to hurt her but I will do my best to find the person who sent her all these.’
‘I love Yedda as if she was my own sister, I can take the bullet for her. I don’t want to see her getting hurt so do what you can to find the person threatening her or I take the law into my own hands.’
‘I will do what I can.’
‘I just called Melanie and she is fuming, she is gonna turn this place upside down if anyone tries to hurt Yedda. We love you Alex and we know our girl is happy with you so please don’t let us down, cage whoever is trying to get to her.’
‘I swear I will protect her with everything in me.’
‘Good,’ I smile.
‘I will go and sit next to her so that she sees me when she wakes up, I don’t want her freaking out.’ ‘Okay.’
He stands and walks towards Yedda’s room.
I walk to my room too and make a few phone calls.
****
Trish
‘Thank you for today,’ I tell Ezra, we are standing at the door and he is about to leave.
‘Thank you for the money,’ he says
‘You are welcome.’
‘Don’t forget about my request,’ he pouts like a little girl.
‘You know I make things happen, I will get you a new car before you even know it. Trust me.’
He smiles wrapping his arms around me. Then he leans into me and kisses me deeply like we are never going to kiss again. He pours in every emotion he has for me in that one kiss.
We pull away from each other breathlessly, ‘If we go on like this, I won’t allow you to go,’ I say ‘I can never get enough of you,’ he whispers.
‘Let’s go out on a vacation next weekend, i need the distraction.’ ‘Sure.’
I smile, ‘Excellent, I will start planning soon.’
He kisses my lips lightly and I allow him to leave.
I walk back into the house with a huge smile on my lips, I feel so happy. My life will soon fall into place.
‘Trish,’ Maureen stops me as I am about to enter my room.
I look back at her, ‘What?’ I ask uninterested
‘I would like to talk to you.’
‘About?’
‘I don’t like the life you are leading, from my own understanding that man is married but you keep bringing him here, giving him your body and money,’ she says
I laugh and clap my hands together wondering where she got the guts to talk to me like that.
‘I know it’s none of my business but you are a beautiful young lady. You shouldn’t waste your life like that.’
‘You are right, it’s none of your f**king business,’ i say snidely.
‘I am just worried about your wellbeing.’
I shake my head, pissed at her foolishness, ‘You shouldn’t be worried about me you are not my family.’
I turn but she puts her hand on my shoulder, ‘Trish.’
I angrily turn around at this point my heart is boiling with rage. How dare she talk to me like that, where did she even get the guts to touch me?
I quickly grab her by the neck then pin her against the wall, choking her. She tries to pull my hand from her neck but I am stronger than her.
I lose control tightening my grip against her neck as she gasps for air.
‘Trish! You are gonna kill her, let her go,’ I hear someone scream but her pleas fall on deaf ears. I just want to finish her off. Suddenly someone grabs me by the shoulder and pushes me. I let go.
Maureen falls to the floor holding her neck, coughing.
‘I will kill you one day, stop poking your nose into my business,’ I growl.
****
A gambling Hear