#TENDER_BEAUTY_2 (Life after the wedding)
EPISODE 4
We strolled on the beach enjoying the fresh air. We decided to leave the water pl@yfor the last activity as we chatted, laughed and made jests of one another, coconut drinks in hand. The coconut water itself which is sold at the beach is so fun drinking when you have straw inser-ted in it.
A horse man c@m£ in our direction pu-lling two horses. He must have sighted us from afar and decided to make some money out of two wonderful couples.
“good evening ladies and gentlemen” he said approaching us. “Would you like a ride?”
“as long as it is free” Tony said jovially and we all laughed slightly, including the horseman.
Richa-rd looked at me slightly. “Well, we would definitely like one” he said to the man, looking at me.
“What? You know I have never been on one. It could throw me over or something. I could break my n£¢k, my legs or even my… my back” I said nervously.
He smiled. “Don’t worry sugar, you would not even break a nail, I as-sure you” he responded. “Let us have one” he said to the man and took one. I shifted in agitation but before I even thought of protesting, I was alre-ady off the ground and was on the horse’s back. My tummy sank and I looked stupefied as I stared at Richa-rd on the sand.
“You can’t be serious” I said.
“Don’t be scared now babe, I am here with you” he said and got behind me. The animal moved beneath me and I shifted closer to Richa-rd . His clos£ness did two things to me – it made me feel protected but it also made my heartbeat increase its tempo, not from fear though. His clos£ness always made me feel nervous – in a good kind of way. Tony and Prisca were alre-ady ahead of us with Patricia in Prisca’s firm grip.
Richa-rd , fully aware of the effects he had on me, moved even closer ma-king my breath ragged. I felt his smile even without seeing him and I was slightly upset but I knew everything he was doing also had its effects on him too even if he seemed calm.
“Shall we go sweetheart?” he asked and I nodded nervously, vowing to retaliate. I moved backwards intentionally, relaxing fully against his che-st and I felt him stiffen and shiver; my s-en-ses told me it was not from the breeze.
“I nee-d to focus honey, you are not ma-king it easy” he said. I smiled. I placed my hands on his legs tenderly without warning, moving it upwards and the horse st©pped moving abruptly. I was shocked initially but later started laughing. He is not so powerful after all. He breathed de-eply and said matter-of-factly, “that was not so funny”.
I laughed more. “It is good to retaliate”
He scoffed. “That is not the behaviour of a good Christian”
“What? I beg to differ my prince, I am sure this section of the husband to wife relationsh!pis excluded” I said with a grin. “You can do everything to make me edgy and you expect me to fold my hands and accept it all?”
“I was planning on teaching you how to ride a horse but you are not ma-king it easy for me.” He said moving his palm throu-gh my hair. The horse resumed its catwalk again and I tried to focus on everything he was saying about how to propel a horse to movement. We caught up with Tony and Prisca who seemed to be having a wonderful time. The horse moved close to the water and it seemed like I would be deposited in it. I told Richa-rd and he smiled, reduced my fear by moving away from the water. He st©pped and looked at me. I craned my head backwards to look into his eyes.
“Did you enjoy yourself honey?” he asked cunningly.
“Yeah, a lot. But for the record, I would rather not ride with you next time”
He laughed. “Don’t tell me I have that much effect on you” he said coyly.
“Of course not” I said looking away.
“Uhn”. Richa-rd enclosed my mouth with his and my guard was thrown overboard. We k!$$£d for a while and when he re-leased me, I was slightly dizzy. He k!$$£d my cheeks and my forehead, gazing into my eyes.
“I think I would rather ride with you next time” I said and he grinned.
“What about a race?” we heard Tony say. We had forgotten totally about them but they were also too involved with each other to even notice us.
“That’s perfect” I heard Richa-rd say but Prisca and I started protesting until they put us down in order to satisfy their own de-sires. I took Pat from Prisca. “I think it is good this way, I want to talk to you about something Pric” I said as we strolled, watching our husbands as they bounced off.
“Girl, what do you think about Richa-rd ‘s mother?” I asked Pric as we walked on the beautiful sand of the beach.
“Sorry Lina but I don’t like her one bit. She has no right whatsoever to come after Richa-rd after so many years. I am sorry to say this but she is just a gold-digger.” She said in one breath.
I sighed. “I don’t know if I am being stupid but I want to re-unite Richa-rd with his mother”
“That is ridiculous. To me, that woman is more harm than good. The earlier he forgot about her, the better for everyone, including you.”
She might be right, I thought. The woman is a bad influence and having heard so much about Mother-in-laws, I was not sure I would like to have one. But am I not being selfish?
********** **********
I left work very early on Tuesday, two weeks after my adventure at the beach. The work must be taking its toll on me because I was feeling physically weak. My physical weakness was not going to st©p me from going to church but I wanted some time to rest so I left earlier than usual. Informing Richa-rd did not cross my mind because all I wanted was to go home, have a cool shower and sleep.
I entered my car and zoomed out of the hospital premises on t©p speed. I was just about a half way throu-gh the journey when I noticed the flat tire at the driver’s side of the car. I must have skipped it in my rush because it was at zero level. This struck me as odd and strange because I just had the tires changed a week ago.
This is frustrating, I thought as I parked beside the road to see what I can do. What does a girl know about a mechanic’s job? I dialed my mechanic but his number was switched off. I did not sight any roadside mechanic so I did what anyone in my situation would do – do the job myself.
I got out my spare tire from the boot, my jack and wheel spanner. Richa-rd has done this one or two times in my pres£nce during awkward times like this so I knew I should be able to handle it. Just as I was going about my business, a car parked in front of mine but I was beyond caring. I placed the jack un-der the car and started pumping it in order to lift the car.
“Who do we have here?” I heard behind me and the voice registered immediately I heard it.
I turned slowly and saw the very person who owned the voice. “What are you doing here, Kelvin?” I asked surprised that he was actually there and even more surprised that I could recollect his voice.
“I was just driving by and saw you. I don’t nee-d to look twice to recognize you, even in the dark.” He responded with a smile which I found increasingly annoying by the minute.
“That’s great. You can go now, after all, you can see that I am busy”. I said and continued my work.
“No” he responded sharply. “I can’t possibly leave you here to do this. I am sure you don’t have the slightest idea about what you are doing. Don’t let me pas-s the chance to save a damsel in distress, especially when the damsel is you. What happened between us should be in the past now. We are Christians”. He said and with feeling? I can’t believe it.
I looked at him feeling slightly irritated. He gently shoved me aside and took over the job without permission. I folded my hands across my che-st as I watched him fix the tire almost effortlessly. Something told me that this is no chance meeting and I kept that thought at the back of my mind.
He was throu-gh about 15 minutes later and I thanked him for his help but he blocked me unexpectedly as I made to enter my car, causing me to bu-mp into him. I righted myself and faced him with a questioning glare until he backed down.
“I just… I just thought we could have a drink nearby, you know, to catch up on lost time” he said.
“Oh… I don’t think it would be a good idea. You know, having people see us together might create a wrong impression and I would like to avoid that. I am happily married and I don’t want rumors getting in the way of my happily ever after. Seeing that you are not wearing a wedding ring, it suggests that you are not married, so it is best to stay away from your Ex in order to encourage ladies to look in your direction. Besides, we are Christians, right? Thanks again and have a nice day” I said in one breath and before he could think of st©pping me, I was alre-ady in my car with the doors firmly locked. I pu-ll-ed out and headed home.
********************
Oyinade moved confidently towards Richa-rd ‘s office to give a report about some patients. Her dressing would be describe-d as anything but descent. Her Sk-irt was ti-ght enough to displ@ythe enormous load she was carrying and her shi-t was not able to withhold the overflow of flesh and her cle-avagewas in public displa-y. She had decided that the forepl@ywas long overdue; she nee-ded to get what she wanted.
Richa-rd raised his eyes when she entered and his eyes seemed to linger a bit more than they usually did, she noted with satisfaction. She did not wait for permission before she sat down, crossing her legs in front of her. Richa-rd noticed all these gestures but did not say a word. She set about her job, using her most fascinating voice, trying to be as accountable as possible. When she was done, all she heard was, “Alright, you can leave now” from her boss.
She stood up slowly and was at the door when she heard Richa-rd calling her. She smiled victoriously but faced Richa-rd looking indifferent. For the first time, Richa-rd faced her fully. It was as if he was seeing her for the very first time.
“Why are you dressed so indecently?” he asked suddenly. Oyin was speechless. That was not the question she was expecting.
“You have to always remember that this is a hospital and not a h0tel Miss Adeyanju. If you wish to remain in this hospital, holding the position you are in pres£ntly, you would have to dress moderately. Do you un-derstand me?” he said with seriousness written all over him.
Oyinade’s throat bec@m£ thick. She could not stand the humiliation. She muttered her apologies and vanished to her office where she cried tears of disgrace and annoyance. She picked up her phone and dialed Ronke’s number.
“Carry out plan B now” she ordered immediately Ronke picked.
“What is the matter again girl, that is not our plan” she heard over the receiver.
“I don’t give a damn. Do it now” she yelled and the line went dead. She started pacing the office in anger
WATCH OUT FOR EPISODE 5