"Congratulations" Anette said stretching her hand to Aletta.She had cried a river before deciding not to give up. Her mom had told her that since they were not yet married she still had a chance to accomplish whatever it was that she wanted to have."Thank you" Aletta replied taking the tip of her fingers briefly before letting go of them quickly."I guess you must have thought I was a fool when I was busy planning a future with Joshua when you already had him in the palm of your hand. Aletta gritted her teeth which caused her jaws to be squared. She wondered what Anette was trying to do. Knowing what she had done in the past few days she knew that announcing their relationship was not going to keep her away."I hope you can make him happy, as long as Joshua is happy I am happy" Anette lied.She wondered how the lies did not get stuck in her throat as the words left her mouth. She was not giving up if he was not hers at the end."I can assure you that he is happy now and I hope to b
"You look so happy it's kind of creeping me out" Aletta said as she and Joshua finally sat down at the table."Of course I am happy" he said turning to her and giving her the best smile. "Why?" she asked pursing her lips together."It feels like a weight has been finally lifted off my shoulder since I told everyone about us, and see no one really cares about us and are going on with their life as usual" Joshua said and Aletta nodded in agreement.She did not know what she had been so worried about. They all congratulated her but it ended there without any further comment. She wondered if it was because of the status of most of the people there. Maybe the wealthy did not like to be involved in gossip. Maybe people in general did not have time for frivolous gossip. Maybe she was just being paranoid and there was nothing much to it. "And now" Joshua's hand fished her hand out and he intertwined their hands together."Joshua," she said in a hushed whisper as her eyes darted to the party
"Let me go say goodbye to your mom," Aletta said standing up."So are you really going to leave me?" he asked with a pout."What do you mean?" Aletta asked pulling him to herself."Come on just stay the night" he said blinking rapidly and then pouting."I can not stay the night, I did not inform my mom and sister" Aletta replied."I am sure that Alethea would think that you can spend the night here and your mom... your mom" he said his eyes going wide with realization."Your mom, your mom is in town?" he asked and she nodded."She just came around for a visit," Aletta said. She had to think that it was a visit otherwise what other word would be enough to describe that her mom had come because she had broken up with her boyfriend? "Why did you not tell me?" Joshua asked patting her hand excitedly. "You are too excited" she said holding his hands before he could tap her again. "She is only here for a moment" Aletta added."I should meet her" he said standing up and holding her to his
"Your parents seem to be so much in love," Aletta said as they walked to the car. Her hands felt so warm and she loved it as his big hands covered up her tiny hands."They are, I learnt from them what love should look like, I cannot remember a day where I did not see them all lovey-dovey with each other," Joshua said."That kind of love is the kind of one should have," Aletta said dreamily.She had once dreamt of a life like that but now that her dreams had changed she did not mind watching other love like that from a distance. "What do I tell my mom?" Joshua asked changing the topic."About what?" Aletta asked confused. "She wants me to get married but the woman who I like doesn't want to marry me" Joshua said casually as he opened the car door.Aletta quietly entered the car and turned to him waiting for him to close the door. "Can we go?" she asked and he nodded.He closed the door and walked around the car to the driver's seat. It was obvious to him that she was uncomfortable ta
"We are here," Aletta said as they stood at the door. "Just say hello and be on your way" "You sound as if you are in a hurry to see me leave so you can see your second boyfriend," Joshua said with a frown."I don't want to risk the two of you running into each other," Aletta said in a mocking tone."I know that's a joke but I sincerely do not like the sound of that" he said holding her hand. "The thought that you could suddenly not be mine again does not sit well with me" he added."Calm down" she said using her second hand to pat his hand that was on hers. "I am only worried that you would be driving alone at night" she said and a smile climbed his face."That's much better" he said squeezing her hand. "I don't want to have to start guessing what you mean, I want you to tell me what you mean, every time" he said and she shook her head."That I can't do" Aletta replied."What are you two doing there? Do you want a picture of you taken?" Alethea asked from behind them."What are you
"Joshua" Aletta whined turning to him. This was not their agreement. He was supposed to see her mom, say hello and be on his way home."Come sit" Eunice said leading him away from the passageway to the couch."Why are you sitting?" Aletta cried but they went on with their activities as if she was not speaking to them."So you are Delgado's son?" Eunice said with glee. "And my daughter's boyfriend?" she added."I am so lucky to have her in my life and also so delighted to meet you," Joshua said."I am delighted to meet you as well" Eunice replied."Here tea" Alethea said dropping a cup of tea on the table for him."Where have you been all day?" Eunice asked Alethea as she sat down."Not now Mom" Alethea replied through gritted teeth."What do you mean by not now?" Eunice asked. She wanted to know where her daughter had spent the entire day without letting her know."We have a guest now" Alethea continued with gritted teeth. "Now isn't the time to delve into my escapades" she added thro
Everyone turned to Aletta, she had been so quiet while they had been speaking."Are you not comfortable with them coming to my house?" Joshua asked his gaze on her as if he was trying to figure out what she was thinking."It's not that I am uncomfortable with the idea it's just that..." she trailed off looking down. If she said what her concern was it would be as if she was being paranoid for no reason."If you are not uncomfortable then why are having this discussion?" Alethea asked."Because although I am not uncomfortable I am still not comfortable with the idea" Aletta responded."What does that mean?" Alethea asked. She wondered how her sister's mind worked and why it was working that way. Why could she not say what she was feeling plainly so everyone around her could understand?"If we go there to have dinner it would look like we are having a meeting for families, like we want to get married" Aletta said."What? Why would it feel that way?" Joshua asked standing up from beside
Aletta had successfully found a way to get Joshua out of her house. She convinced him that he could stay over another night when her mom had left because it was embarrassing for her. He agreed because he thought it might be weird having her walk into them at night.Aletta silently walked into her room, she made her way to the bathroom to freshen up, she could not believe she was still in the black dress she had been wearing all night.She was grateful to her stars that she had avoided the heels and gone for flats. She had a short and quick shower before she slipped into bed. She sent a text to Joshua to confirm if he was at home already because she was worried about him driving around so late at night.She dropped her phone to the stand when he had sent a good night's text. At least he was okay so she did not feel bad about her letting him drive her all the way across town. "Aletta," Eunice said silently from beside her."Did I wake you?